Jamie Carragher says Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was WRONG to hook Callum Hudson-Odoi off as stats show that only Timo Werner made more sprints in 31-minute cameo
Jamie Carragher believes Thomas Tuchel was wrong to haul Callum Hudson-Odoi off the pitch against Southampton because of his ‘attitude’ and has pointed to the stats to prove it.
Eyebrows were raised when Hudson-Odoi was withdrawn in the 76th minute at St Mary’s following his half-time introduction, with talkSPORT host Tony Cascarino, among others, suggesting the tactical move from the new Blues boss was ‘too harsh’.
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But speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Carragher said Tuchel had every right to substitute the 20-year-old but suggested the reasoning that he showed the ‘wrong attitude’ was wrong.
“A manager is paid to make decisions and get results,” Carragher began.
“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.”
Carragher proved that only Timo Werner made more sprints than Hudson-Odoi in his 31-minute cameo as he set out to quash Tuchel’s reasoning.
He continued: “Timo Werner was the only player who made more sprints than Callum Hudson-Odoi in that period.
“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.”
