THOMAS TUCHEL was wrong to haul Callum Hudson-Odoi off the pitch against Southampton because of his ‘attitude’, according to Jamie Carragher.
The Blues winger, 20, was humiliated during Saturday’s 1-1 draw after being subbed off just half an hour after being introduced from the bench.
Carragher believes Tuchel made a mistake in subbing off Hudson-Odoi on SaturdayCredit: AFP
After the game, Chelsea boss Tuchel slammed Hudson-Odoi’s attitude.
But – ahead of Brighton’s clash with Crystal Palace – Carragher insisted the German boss was wrong… and had the stats to prove it.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: “A manager is paid to make decisions and get results.
“If [Tuchel] felt making that change gave them more chance of winning the game and helping Chelsea get in the Champions League then I have absolutely no problem with it.
“[Hudson-Odoi] lost the ball seven times in the game and had it 18, so that may have been a problem for the manager.
“But the two times he lost it poorly, he was sprinting after the ball.
“When the manager says he’s wasn’t happy with his counter-pressing… I can’t really see too much of a problem.”
Delving into the numbers, Carragher proved Hudson-Odoi was more than active, completing an impressive eight sprints in his 31-minute cameo.
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Tuchel hauled off sub Hudson-Odoi after just 31 minutes in the 1-1 draw with SouthamptonCredit: AFP
Carragher backed up his argument with stats and video clips showing Hudson Odoi’s effortCredit: Reuters
Carra continued: “Timo Werner was the only player who made more sprints than Callum Hudson-Odoi in that period.
“My problem with the manager is not bringing him off and not what he said after the game.
“I think it was not right to bring him off.
“We don’t know exactly why he brought him off, but sometimes a manager sees one thing and wants to make a change.
“I think it was very harsh to bring him off.
“But it will send a message to Callum Hudson-Odoi and it will send a message to anyone who comes off the bench as a sub that they have to impact the game.
“And he never impacted the game enough.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea icon Joe Cole also believed Hudson-Odoi was treated unfairly at the weekend.
Cole called Tuchel’s decision ‘bold’, but claimed the young England winger could have been the man to break the deadlock.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk