Chelsea: Tuchel doesn't fear reaction to Hudson-Odoi sub
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has been called out by Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football after his treatment over Callum Hudson-Odoi. The forward was put on as a second-half sub against Southampton only to be hauled off after 31 minutes.
Sky Sports pundit Carragher has denounced Tuchel after taking Hudson-Odoi off against Southampton on Saturday.
It came as Chelsea stumbled in the race for the top four, only managing a 1-1 draw with the Saints, who halted a six-match losing streak.
Later that day, West Ham leapfrogged above them in the Premier League after beating Tottenham 2-1 to sit in a Champions League spot.
But the eyes were concentrated on Hudson-Odoi and Tuchel, who made some bold calls at St. Mary’s.
Thomas Tuchel has been slammed for his treatment of Callum Hudson-Odoi (Image: GETTY)
The England international was put on for the second-half, replacing Tammy Abraham but after 30 minutes he was off again - with Hakim Ziyech coming on.
Tuchel insisted that he was not happy with the 20-year-old’s attitude and demanded 100 per cent - which he did not see.
But Carragher has disputed that claim, revealing how Hudson-Odoi made more sprints than everyone except one player despite his second-half arrival.
“A manager is paid to make decisions and get results,” Carragher began.
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“If [Tuchel] felt making that change gave them more chance of winning the game and helping Chelsea get in the Champions League then I have absolutely no problem with it.
“Hudson-Odoi lost the ball seven times in the game and had it 18, so that may have been a problem for the manager.
“But the two times he lost it poorly, he was sprinting after the ball.
“When the manager says he’s wasn’t happy with his counter-pressing… I can’t really see too much of a problem.
“Timo Werner was the only player who made more sprints than Callum Hudson-Odoi in that period.
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Carragher explained why Tuchel was wrong (Image: SKY SPORTS)
“My problem with the manager is not bringing him off and not what he said after the game. I think it was not right to bring him off.
“We don’t know exactly why he brought him off, but sometimes a manager sees one thing and wants to make a change.
“I think it was very harsh to bring him off.
“But it will send a message to Callum Hudson-Odoi and it will send a message to anyone who comes off the bench as a sub that they have to impact the game. And he never impacted the game enough.”