Tammy Abraham has become the latest Chelsea player to get the Thomas Tuchel treatment.
The striker was omitted from the squad for the crunch clash with Manchester United yesterday — which ended 0-0 — and Tuchel made no attempt to hide his reasons for overlooking the England international.
Abraham is struggling, the German revealed. "Things are not as easy as they should be for him in the moment," Tuchel explained, before adding: "This is what you sign up for if you are a player for Chelsea."
Yesterday, it was Abraham getting the truth bomb. A week earlier, it was Callum Hudson-Odoi, who was hauled off half an hour after coming on as a substitute against Southampton.
But imagine Tuchel's lightness of touch replaced by the dismissive mannerisms of a Jose Mourinho. Would the German's treatment of Hudson-Odoi and Abraham be interpreted as the pair being 'thrown under the bus' if Mourinho had done the same?
It is all about context, and the manner in which a message is conveyed can be just as important as the message itself.
Tuchel's openness with the players he inherited from Frank Lampard has been largely well-received. Hudson-Odoi was given the reasons for being hooked at Southampton and then immediately entrusted with a start against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Ultimately, his man-management will be judged by results on the pitch. If Tuchel secures a top-four spot and goes deep in, or even wins, the Champions League, his handling of his players will be considered a masterstroke.
But none of those targets can be guaranteed, especially with Chelsea dropping four points from their last two games as they approach fixtures against direct rivals Liverpool and Everton.
On the face of it, Abraham is no more struggling in Chelsea's attack than most other players since Tuchel took charge. Given the team's struggles to create scoring chances, it is debatable whether summer target Erling Haaland would be able to get goals in this team.
Unlocking their potential will be pivotal to Chelsea's season and, ultimately, Tuchel's future at the club.
