Thomas Tuchel
Can you assess that result and what is the injury update on Reece James, Andreas Christensen and Christian Pulisic?
Reece James we have a hamstring injury and a back injury for Andreas Christensen. That’s pretty much it. We knew before that this was going to be a tough match against a strong side. They come well prepared, it is always like this. I have not seen one team play a nice match against them (Brighton). It was clear we would struggle, we have simply way too many players with who we don’t know what we can demand. We have long injuries, they come from Covid, I simply don’t know what they are capable of doing. We started very, very well until the injury for Reece James, which was a huge blow. Andreas was until then one of the top players on the pitch. It is too much, that is why I can understand when you play against a Brighton side with nothing to lose and play with confidence so you have to overcome difficult moments. With NG [N’Golo] we were again much better, had huge chances and honestly, I would never usually say it but we have 100 per cent a penalty against Christian Pulisic, a 50/50 challenge from Mason Mount before the equaliser. The ball is going into the net, why does he need to whistle before the ball is over the line? Why? We have VAR to check, why can we not wait? If he decides then it is a foul then decide it but why is he so sure? Does he want to keep the tension up? The penalty is a joke, honestly a joke, not to interfere from VAR.
Injuries today prove you were right about risking the player’s health?
This is it.
Are you out of the title race? Or do you not want to think about it?
How should we be in it? We have seven Covid cases. We have five or six players out for six or more weeks. How should we compete in a title race? Everyone else who has a full squad, everybody in training has the full power to come through this league. 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.
Integrity of the title race been lost?
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. If you see the impact from N’Golo Kante that he has if he only plays 30 minutes. One single player if you add the minutes that he is missing over a season, if you add the minutes over Mateo Kovacic it is too much.
Timo Werner misisng again?
Not good. Not good. Not in training.
Because of Covid?
Yes of course.
Romelu Lukaku has shown good fitness levels, impressed?
Surprised what he’s doing. Actually very surprised, but I don’t know how long he can do it. We will try it and then we will see because nobody knows. I’m surprised because he was six weeks, eight weeks out, then when was trying to come back caught Covid and after that one training and let’s go. This is what we do at the moment.
