Here is your Chelsea morning digest for Friday, February 5.
'Amazing' Edouard Mendy
"Well it is also our quality, we have played very strong in the build-up with the back three, who are playing with confidence," Thomas Tuchel said when asked whether his three games so far against teams playing with little ambition was what he expected from English football.
"Don't forget today Edou [Mendy] was amazing in opening up situations for us when we were under pressure, he did an excellent game.
"Like I said the back three, also with Andreas coming in during a difficult situation, was amazing. The two sixes between Kovacic and Jorginho played very well together.
"Also, it was hard to press us high up the pitch because we had the quality and the confidence so this is the aim. If we have the quality to bring the game into the opponent's half, attack deep and be encouraged and structured enough to have short distances to counter press because mistakes always happen, this is the goal.
"The better we do it, the harder it is to defend and we defended today against Bergwijn, Son, Lamela and Sissoko and all their guys with intensity.
"It is a big effort to do it, it is never easy, I totally assure you. I have seen now, in three games, three intense matches and I saw a high intensity for us with the ball and that is what I care about.
"I have no expectations about other teams and we still have to improve."
Jadon Sancho alert
Chelsea and Manchester United have been placed on alert in the transfer market, with Borussia Dortmund reportedly reducing their asking price drastically for Jadon Sancho.
The 20-year-old has been strongly linked with both sides in the past, and looked to be heading to Manchester in the summer, but the Bundesliga side stood firm on their £108million valuation of the England international.
United were reportedly prepared to pay as much as £93million, but could not secure the signing of the young star.
However, SportBILD state that the pandemic has changed things significantly, and now the Bundesliga side will be prepared to accept closer to £88million to allow Sancho to leave in the summer.
Tuchel's tactical switch for Spurs
Thomas Tuchel has admitted that it was a tactical decision to bring Reece James into the starting XI for Chelsea's clash against Spurs.
Callum Hudson-Odoi had started both of Tuchel's matches in charge at right wing-back, but James came into the team for the trip to North London with Tammy Abraham dropping to the bench.
The blues dominated proceedings, with James playing a key role as Chelsea sought to put some dangerous crosses into the Spurs box.
Ahead of the game, Tuchel told BT Sport that it was a tactical decision to start James against Mourinho's side.
"[It's] why I joined the Premier League, I enjoyed my first two matches and we are here to win," Tuchel said.
"[Clean sheets] gives everybody a good feeling, not only the players but the staff at the side of the pitch too. We have been brave in defending and put in a lot of effort as a team.
"A little bit, a little bit [of a change in shape], but this is what we have in the pocket and this is what we can decide because we have a squad of many good players that we have, and they deserve to play. So we change from game to game, what we think suits us best. Today is Reece's turn to show up and I hope he can."
