CHELSEA forward Callum Hudson-Odoi has revealed he had never played wing-back before being asked to by new Blues boss Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday evening.
The 20-year-old, who ordinarily occupies a more attacking role, was told to play as part of a back five in the German’s first game in charge, which ended in a goalless draw with Wolves.
Hudson-Odoi enjoyed playing wing-back despite it not being his natural positionCredit: 2021 � Matthew Ashton/AMA AMA SPORTS PHOTO AGENCY 07885 163164 / +44 7885163164
And while Hudson-Odoi admits it was an adjustment, he also insists he relished learning how to be effective in a new role.
He told the Chelsea website: “It was something new for me.
“It was my first time trying it yesterday [in training] and I felt alright playing in it, it wasn’t a problem for me. It was good trying to play that position and no matter where the manager asks me to play I will try to do my best.
“He wants me to be as direct and to keep getting at full-backs and defenders as much as possible.
“He knows all the attacking players can be free and score goals and he wants us to be direct and keep pushing and try to get goals and get assists. He told me to work up and down that line, be direct and stay as high and wide as possible.
“I try to break the line and keep doing different movements to get the ball. He wants us to keep going in behind and find good passes, find different ways of breaking teams instead of trying to beat them every time with the ball.
“I felt really fit throughout the whole game, I felt really sharp, trying to be direct as much as possible and trying to get at my defender as much as possible, and I feel as a collective we did really well.
“We were working hard, trying to break their back five as quick as possible. At times it was very difficult. When we were getting behind them they were recovering so well it was hard to make that extra pass to break it.
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“I think we have to be more clinical with our crossing and more clinical with our passing. End product just to finish it off. We can hopefully improve on it on Sunday.”
Chelsea lacked any real attacking threat for much of their 0-0 draw with Wolves, but did appear much more defensively solid.
Tuchel was encouraged with his new team’s performance as he took over just 48 hours after former boss Frank Lampard was sacked.
Next up for the Blues is a home match against an in-form Burnley side on Sunday.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
