Cole fears Tuchel ‘missed a trick’ against Real
Joe Cole fears Thomas Tuchel might have made a mistake by not making attacking changes earlier against Real Madrid.
Christian Pulisic scored a potentially vital away goal in the Champions League semi-final first leg, where the hosts were below par in a 1-1 draw.
Blues boss Tuchel deployed Cesar Azpilicueta at right wing-back in an attempt to make his team more solid defensively.
The Spaniard was replaced by the more attack-minded Reece James midway through the second half.
But ex-Chelsea star Cole believes a change could have been made sooner, particularly as Real left-back Marcelo looked vulnerable.
Cole also fears Real might be stronger in the second leg, with Sergio Ramos potentially returning and former Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard, who came on as a substitute, now back in action after injury.
“The only disappointing thing, I think, is not to put it to bed,” Cole said on BT Sport.
“When you have Real Madrid on the ropes you could have got Callum Hudson-Odoi or Reece James on a bit earlier to have a go at Marcelo.
“I think he (Tuchel) missed a trick. I hope I’m wrong, but I just think they (Real) won’t play as bad as that (in the second leg).
“If Ramos is back they could go back to a back four, which they’ll be more comfortable with, and Eden Hazard has another week’s training.
“Fantastic result and a good performance, but it could have been better.”
Cole insisted he was very confident Chelsea will see off a Real side who need to score in the second leg to have any chance of reaching the final.
But he believes Real boss Zinedine Zidane will make changes, having opted to field three central defenders in the first leg.
Cole said: “I think Real Madrid learned more from this game than Tuchel and Chelsea.
“Chelsea have got their respect. I think Zinedine Zidane goes into the second leg going back to what he knows – 4-3-3 and I think they’ll try and get at Chelsea because they have to score a goal.
“Zidane will have learned a lot and the players will as well.”
