Thomas Tuchel explains why Chelsea can’t compete with title rivals Man City or Liverpool

 

Thomas Tuchel says it is ‘stupid’ to consider Chelsea as Premier League title challengers amid their current problems with injuries and Covid cases.

Danny Welbeck’s late header denied the Blues a much-needed victory at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

Chelsea now sits eight points behind league leaders Manchester City, who extended their lead thanks to Phil Foden’s winner at Brentford.

Just two wins in their last six league games have dented their title hopes with Reece James and Andreas Christensen joining an injury list that has hampered Tuchel’s selection plans for most of December.

Assessing Chelsea’s title chances after Wednesday’s draw at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea boss said: ‘How should we be in it? We have seven Covid  cases, we have five or six players out for six or more weeks.

Assessing Chelsea’s title chances after Wednesday’s draw at Stamford Bridge, the Chelsea boss said: ‘How should we be in it? We have seven Covid  cases, we have five or six players out for six or more weeks.

‘We would be stupid to think we can do it out of Covid and injuries. Just play and everybody would be stupid to do it without 23 fit players.

‘This is the reality, this is where we are and we have to adapt to the demands of the situation which you are in.

‘This is what I am saying. I competed very hard for the win at Brighton at home. I don’t know what I can expect from my players in terms of physicality, intensity or minutes.

Nobody knows anymore because we have never done something like this. We play trial and error and see what I can do. I will protect my team. We can play better but we need the full squad over weeks and weeks.’

It is rather too early for the Chelsea boss to give the Epl title hopes , the German  is no doubt partly at fault for the Blues’ drop in form, and it is with some irony that the problem lies in changes to his starting XI that have come without changes to the overall strategy.

When Tuchel arrived at Stamford Bridge, he was renowned for being an anxious, even twitchy manager who constantly tinkered with his formation. What must have gone wrong  now? Let us know in the comment section.