Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi has been utilised in a number of positions under Thomas Tuchel including at right wing-back – an unnatural role for the England international
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Callum Hudson-Odoi admitted he thought Thomas Tuchel was joking when he was told he would be deployed as a right wing-back.
The Chelsea star has had to fight hard for a spot in the team with the German manager having a number of options going forward.
As well as himself, there are several players vying for the same position including Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Mason Mount.
But Hudson-Odoi has not given up and it has led to Tuchel shoehorning the winger into a new role – at right-back.
The 21-year-old was told by the Blues boss that he would be playing there and he was initially confused by his demands.
“When the manager first came in and he told me to play wing-back, I was just a bit in shock,” Hudson-Odoi told talkSPORT. “I thought it was a joke.
“Obviously, when I played there, it was different. It suited my game a little at that time and I think that he’s come in and he’s given the freedom and the instruction to the team of how he wants everyone to play and what he wants from the team to try to win games.
“He knows what he wants to win and so do we. So we are playing as hard as we can and to the best level we can to obviously win every game.
“When he has come in, he has given us that extra motivation, extra courage and push to know that regardless, he is going to push us to our hardest level because he wants the best out of us.
“It’s definitely a good thing to know that he is coming in with the motivation and determination to try to win games and win trophies.
“We are going to keep pushing until we reach our main goal.”
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Tuchel operates a three-man defence at Chelsea that utilises wing-backs – who often work more as wingers in their high-pressing system.
Reece James and Ben Chilwell are the first names on the teamsheet at the moment after a series of goals and assists.
Between them, they have scored seven and assisted four as the Blues sit top of the Premier League.
They face Leicester on Saturday at the King Power Stadium as they look to preserve their status as league leaders.
Brendan Rodgers’ men have not been in the sort of form that has become normal at the Midlands club and find themselves 12th in the table.
Meanwhile, Liverpool face Arsenal in the later kick-off while Manchester City take on Everton on Sunday.
