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 his new team 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.
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.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have endured a torrid time since beating Chelsea, thanks to Neto’s 90th-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.
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
Chelsea
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Squad number19Player nameMount
Average rating6.53
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Squad number20Player nameHudson-Odoi
Average rating6.39
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Squad number10Player namePulisic
Average rating5.59
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Squad number6Player nameThiago Silva
Average rating5.44
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Squad number16Player nameMendy
Average rating5.19
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Squad number17Player nameKovacic
Average rating5.06
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Squad number9Player nameAbraham
Average rating4.93
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Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
Average rating4.93
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Squad number21Player nameChilwell
Average rating4.89
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Squad number18Player nameGiroud
Average rating4.85
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Squad number22Player nameZiyech
Average rating4.82
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Squad number2Player nameRüdiger
Average rating4.73
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Squad number29Player nameHavertz
Average rating4.68
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Squad number5Player nameJorginho
Average rating4.32
Wolverhampton Wanderers
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Squad number11Player nameRui Patrício
Average rating7.32
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Squad number15Player nameBoly
Average rating7.07
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Squad number16Player nameCoady
Average rating7.07
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Squad number7Player namePedro Neto
Average rating6.96
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Squad number49Player nameKilman
Average rating6.87
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Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
Average rating6.71
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Squad number8Player nameRúben Neves
Average rating6.62
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Squad number32Player nameDendoncker
Average rating6.58
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Squad number12Player nameWillian José
Average rating6.40
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Squad number2Player nameHoever
Average rating6.36
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Squad number10Player nameDaniel Podence
Average rating6.34
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Squad number3Player nameAït-Nouri
Average rating6.06
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Squad number37Player nameTraoré
Average rating6.04
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Squad number28Player nameJoão Moutinho
Average rating5.97
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 16Mendy
- 28Azpilicueta
- 6Thiago Silva
- 2Rüdiger
- 21ChilwellBooked at 62minsSubstituted forPulisicat 76′minutes
- 5Jorginho
- 17Kovacic
- 20Hudson-Odoi
- 22ZiyechSubstituted forMountat 82′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
Live Text
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Match ends, Chelsea 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0.
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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).
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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.