Match ends, Chelsea 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0.
ChelseaChelsea0WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers0
Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea reign got off to a frustrating start as Wolves secured a point in a drab stalemate at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel, appointed boss on Tuesday following the sacking of Frank Lampard, took his place in the dugout after conducting one training session with his new team.
But the German was given an indication of the huge challenge facing him as Chelsea struggled to carve out chances against a Wolves side short of confidence and without a top-flight win since 15 December.
Rui Patricio produced good saves to keep out Antonio Rudiger's header and Callum Hudson-Odoi's deflected attempt, while Chelsea's 433 successful passes were the most by a Tuchel team in the first half of a top-flight game since May 2016.
Ben Chilwell sent a rare chance over the bar but Wolves, who hit the bar through Pedro Neto and gave a debut to striker Willian Jose, were good value for their point.
- Reaction from Stamford Bridge and the rest of Wednesday's Premier League games
- What did Tuchel learn from his first game in charge of Chelsea?
- Tuchel - power player, control freak, visionary
- How has your team fared this season?
New arrival Tuchel an animated presence
When Lampard took charge of his first league match at Stamford Bridge in August 2019 - a 1-1 draw with Leicester - fans unfurled a 'Welcome Home Super Frank' banner.
With no supporters allowed inside the ground because of the coronavirus pandemic, there was no such fanfare for Tuchel, who went straight to his seat in the dugout when he appeared from the tunnel dressed in a blue club coat.
Reminders of the previous regime were evident inside Stamford Bridge.
A 'Super Frankie Lampard' banner remained on display but the arrival of a new boss inevitably heralded change and England trio Mason Mount, Reece James and Tammy Abraham, who had made 39 Premier League starts between them under Lampard this season, started on the bench.
Tuchel was animated throughout, the German at one stage throwing his arms in the air after Hudson-Odoi clipped a cross to the back post only for Chilwell to put it wide.
He repeated the gesture in the second half when Chilwell fired another chance over the bar and Mateo Kovacic went close from long distance.
Former Borussia Dortmund and Paris St-Germain boss Tuchel will demand more urgency from his players, who were pedestrian for spells.
Having conceded 77 goals in 57 Premier League games under Lampard, Chelsea will take some comfort in a clean sheet.
But Tuchel knows he has to get expensive signings like Timo Werner and Kai Havertz firing - and Chelsea winning.
A move in the right direction
Wolves are without a Premier League win in seven games but they dug deep to take a valuable point back to the Black Country - despite failing to register an attempt on target.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side have endured a torrid time since beating Chelsea, thanks to Neto's 95th-minute winner, at Molineux on 15 December.
They arrived in London having picked up just two points from a possible 18.
Yet they stifled Chelsea for spells on their way to a first top-flight clean sheet since 30 October.
Wolves have struggled since losing Raul Jimenez to serious injury but Nuno will hope the arrival of new loan signing Jose, who has scored 62 goals in 170 appearances for Real Sociedad - as well as the return of Daniel Podence from injury - will push his team on after an awkward spell of results.
They went close to securing all three points when Neto lifted the ball beyond Edouard Mendy, the Portugal winger's attempt landing on top of the bar.
'We will build a team nobody wants to play against'
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel: "I don't see too many weaknesses. I will focus on our strengths, the mix is amazing of the team between experienced players, big personalities and young, hungry talent.
"I'm used to creating the special energy and atmosphere you need to create the possibility to win every three days in a league like this.
"We will build a team that nobody wants to play against."
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo: "We had a game plan, we stuck to it and we came out of it with a good point."
First since Benitez - the best of the stats
- Thomas Tuchel is the first Chelsea manager since Rafael Benitez in November 2012 to draw his first game in charge of the club, which was also a 0-0 at Stamford Bridge (v Manchester City).
- Tuchel has seen his team keep a clean sheet in each of their past four league games (three for Paris St-Germain and one for Chelsea), going 415 minutes of play in total since last seeing a side of his concede (versus Lyon on 13 December).
- Wolves are unbeaten against Chelsea home and away for the second time in the past three Premier League seasons.
- Chelsea had 78.9% possession and completed 820 passes against Wolves - since the start of 2003-04, these are both the highest totals by a team in their manager's first Premier League game in charge.
- Chelsea defender Thiago Silva has made 25 home league appearances under Thomas Tuchel (between PSG and Chelsea), and is yet to finish on the losing side (W22 D3).
What's next?
Chelsea host Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday (12:00 GMT), while Wolves return to London on Saturday to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (15:00).
Player of the match
Rui PatrícioRui Patrício
with an average of 7.32
Chelsea
Avg
- Squad number19Player nameMountAverage rating
6.53
- Squad number20Player nameHudson-OdoiAverage rating
6.39
- Squad number10Player namePulisicAverage rating
5.59
- Squad number6Player nameThiago SilvaAverage rating
5.44
- Squad number16Player nameMendyAverage rating
5.19
- Squad number17Player nameKovacicAverage rating
5.06
- Squad number9Player nameAbrahamAverage rating
4.94
- Squad number28Player nameAzpilicuetaAverage rating
4.93
- Squad number21Player nameChilwellAverage rating
4.89
- Squad number18Player nameGiroudAverage rating
4.85
- Squad number22Player nameZiyechAverage rating
4.82
- Squad number2Player nameRüdigerAverage rating
4.73
- Squad number29Player nameHavertzAverage rating
4.68
- Squad number5Player nameJorginhoAverage rating
4.32
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Avg
- Squad number11Player nameRui PatrícioAverage rating
7.32
- Squad number15Player nameBolyAverage rating
7.07
- Squad number16Player nameCoadyAverage rating
7.07
- Squad number7Player namePedro NetoAverage rating
6.96
- Squad number49Player nameKilmanAverage rating
6.87
- Squad number22Player nameNélson SemedoAverage rating
6.71
- Squad number8Player nameRúben NevesAverage rating
6.62
- Squad number32Player nameDendonckerAverage rating
6.58
- Squad number12Player nameWillian JoséAverage rating
6.40
- Squad number2Player nameHoeverAverage rating
6.36
- Squad number10Player nameDaniel PodenceAverage rating
6.34
- Squad number3Player nameAït-NouriAverage rating
6.06
- Squad number37Player nameTraoréAverage rating
6.04
- Squad number28Player nameJoão MoutinhoAverage rating
5.97
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 16Mendy
- 28Azpilicueta
- 6Thiago Silva
- 2Rüdiger
- 20Hudson-Odoi
- 5Jorginho
- 17Kovacic
- 21ChilwellBooked at 62minsSubstituted forPulisicat 76'minutes
- 22ZiyechSubstituted forMountat 83'minutes
- 29Havertz
- 18GiroudSubstituted forAbrahamat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 3Alonso
- 9Abraham
- 10Pulisic
- 11Werner
- 15Zouma
- 19Mount
- 24James
- 33Emerson
Wolves
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 11Rui Patrício
- 15Boly
- 16Coady
- 49Kilman
- 22Nélson Semedo
- 32Dendoncker
- 8Neves
- 3Aït-NouriSubstituted forHoeverat 45'minutes
- 10PodenceSubstituted forDa Silvaat 72'minutes
- 37TraoréSubstituted forJoão Moutinhoat 90'minutes
- 7NetoBooked at 51mins
Substitutes
- 2Hoever
- 12Da Silva
- 17Fábio Silva
- 20Vitinha
- 21Ruddy
- 23Cutrone
- 27Saïss
- 28João Moutinho
- 54Otasowie
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamWolves
- Possession
- Home79%
- Away21%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away0
- Corners
- Home13
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away7
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Willian José.
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Attempt blocked. Kai Havertz (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mason Mount with a cross.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Nélson Semedo.
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Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Willian José (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. João Moutinho replaces Adama Traoré.
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Foul by Jorginho (Chelsea).
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Willian José (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Willy Boly.
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Foul by Christian Pulisic (Chelsea).
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Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Rui Patrício.
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Attempt saved. Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.
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Mason Mount (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Thiago Silva (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Willian José (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Nélson Semedo.
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Comments
Join the conversation
What Chelsea need is a club legend who knows the set up inside out
Whatever happens, just think of the money.
He’s had one day at the club
That was down to the players poor performance
Mount did more in the 8 minutes he was on the pitch than the three I just mentioned did in the entire match