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The Germans have always seen great potential in Callum Hudson-Odoi. He was catapulted to fame when Bayern Munich tried to prise him away and although Chelsea fought them off they have yet to see him flourish.
Under Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard he did not explode as they hoped and yet has been the breakthrough star of the early days of the Thomas Tuchel era.
As a surprise wing-back in two home games and then, on Thursday, operating as an inside right in support of Timo Werner.
Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has taken his chance well under boss Thomas Tuchel
Hudson-Odoi has responded to the challenge with some style. He was the most creative player in Chelsea blue against Wolves and Burnley, and he performed well in another role.
Linking up fluently with Mason Mount and Reece James or offering changes of pace or direction, he was highly influential as Tuchel’s side dominated the first half.
Chelsea’s right side was too strong for Tottenham’s left. Son offered very little protection for Ben Davies. Moussa Sissoko and Pierre-Emile Hojberg had their hands full in the centre.
‘There’s no plan,’ gasped an astonished Jermaine Jenas as he analysed Spurs at half-time on BT Sport. ‘I’m looking at players who are scared. They don’t want to get on the ball. That’s the biggest crime as a footballer.’
Wing-back Marcos Alonso is another who has taken his chance under the German’s reign
Hojbjerg, one of Mourinho’s trusted warriors, seemed to sum it all up when, as he tried to find right-back Serge Aurier from deep in his own territory, he passed the ball into touch.
Spurs could not get the ball up and around Carlos Vinicius, who waited 125 days for his first Premier League start and, when finally given an opportunity, found he could barely get a touch.
When a chance came his way in the final seconds, Vinicius climbed high and headed it wide. They did not deserve a point but they might have stolen one here.
Perhaps it explains Jose Mourinho’s reluctance to use the striker on loan from Benfica. When Harry Kane was injured against Liverpool, Mourinho’s first move was to push Heung-min Son up front.
New boss Tuchel (left) had the better of rival Jose Mourinho (right) in Thursday’s tactical battle
Life without Kane remains a problem at Tottenham. He is more pivotal than ever this season in the role where he drops deeper and links up the play, creating for Son as well as scoring goals.
Not only do they miss his goals, they miss his creativity. How can Vinicius step in cold and replicate that? ‘Everybody prefers to play against them without Harry Kane, for sure,’ smiled Tuchel, ahead of the game.
Mourinho coveted Chelsea’s options. The Spurs boss warned that Chelsea might have a new man in the dug-out, someone still feeling his way into the Premier League, but the players were the same and the squad at Stamford Bridge is strong.
All managers in the top flight would like Olivier Giroud as their third-choice centre-forward. Tuchel started with Giroud up front in his first game, then moved to Tammy Abraham and, at White Hart Lane, omitted Abraham and moved Timo Werner back into a central role as he tried to coax the Germany international back to form.
Son Heung-Min’s travails continued without strike partner Harry Kane, who is still injured
It’s like the live auditions round at Chelsea. Werner’s contribution, winning the penalty for Jorginho to convert, will improve his confidence.
Players offering little under Frank Lampard are coming to life under Tuchel. It might be something the German is doing or saying. It might simply be the way things work out when the slate is wiped clean.
Whatever it is, Chelsea look a different proposition. Hudson-Odoi performed well for an hour and was replaced by Christian Pulisic, who added extra fizz. When Spurs stirred he sent on N’Golo Kante.
Tuchel has a wealth of options and it will be exciting to see how he deploys them. For Spurs, in contrast, are flat. Gareth Bale has not injected the elite quality they hoped he might.
Bale did not seize his chance at Brighton and as Tottenham searched for an equaliser he remained wrapped-up on the bench. Dele Alli has been alienated and absent last night through injury.
Erik Lamela came on and flickered, forcing a save from Edouard Mendy, but Chelsea held out for a victory they deserved. They performed with more adventure.
Little more than two months ago they beat Arsenal in the North London derby to go top of the Premier League. It was a day when Kane and Son were firing and looking lethal and Mourinho tried his best to keep a lid on expectations.
At least that’s one problem he no longer has after recent performances Tottenham have lost three in a row in the Premier League for the first time since November 2012, when Andre Villas-Boas was in charge.
Emerging Chelsea have moved past them and they limp on without Kane.
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