Thomas Tuchel is one of only two managers to have got the better of Pep Guardiola in three successive matches – so how telling will it be if Thomas Tuchel can rack up four wins in a row when Chelsea host Man City on Saturday
Tuchel never beat Guardiola when they both worked in Germany but followed in Jurgen Klopp’s footsteps soon after arriving at Stamford Bridge when he racked up a trio of wins in three different competitions in the space of six weeks at the end of last season.
Tuchel’s last triumph, in the Champions League final, was by far the most significant of those successes, and came after some so-called over-thinking by his opposite number saw him tinker with the tactics that had just delivered his latest Premier League title.
So, what has Guardiola got up his sleeve this time? And, with Chelsea top of the table and already looking in formidable form, how important is it for him and Manchester City that he gets this one right?
Tuchel is not yet the same-sized scalp as Pep, but his approach on Saturday will also be under some scrutiny. After all, he has done little wrong since arriving in England in and, after conquering Europe, his team are currently top of the domestic table.
Like Guardiola, his adaptability is key to his continuing success.
What will Guardiola do next?
A false nine is among Guardiola’s options on Saturday but he did something different each time he took on Tuchel last season, without finding a winning formula.
While he rested players in the FA Cup semi-final and changed his formation from 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 when they met in the league, his most infamous tweak came in Porto, on the biggest stage of all.
Trying to find a way to break down a Chelsea team that, like now, gives very little away, Guardiola decided not to use a holding midfielder in the Champions League final.
It was a bold plan, and it backfired. As Nevin says, Chelsea were soon at checkmate in that particular game of chess – but what will be Guardiola’s next move now they are back at the board?
“Pep was brave in Portugal and wanted to dominate possession and get his midfielders on the ball high up the pitch,” Brown says.
“That’s why he emptied out that holding role, because he thought Ilkay Gundogan could get higher too, but it didn’t work out – the counter-attack from Chelsea was just too good.
“Being away from home on Saturday, though, he will surely be considering a holding midfielder, whether that is Fernandinho or Rodri.
“Further up the pitch, he could use Ferran Torres as a more traditional centre-forward playing on the shoulder of Chelsea’s centre-backs.
“In terms of his shape, he might have been tempted to go with three centre-backs again, because I thought they were the better team when they played that way against Tuchel’s Chelsea in the league, but availability will govern Pep’s selection and formation this time.
“You look at the centre-back area and John Stones and Aymeric Laporte have both been injured. Playing either of them might be a risk, so sticking with a back four is probably sensible.
“He also knows City have three huge games this week – they are at Paris St-Germain on Tuesday and then go to Liverpool next Sunday.
“That could affect his selection too, but I think his approach will be to focus on this game. He knows it will be tough, but he won’t fear Chelsea – City will go all out to beat them on Saturday, and then adapt from there.”