Don’t tell Thomas Tuchel that Chelsea have an ‘easy’ set of matches coming up.
Thomas Tuchel said: “I cannot agree less with you because you used the word easier. I can agree if you mean like that we have seven games where we are seven times the favourites and we have seven times to prove we are the better team because we want to be the better team. I think we should not be shy to acknowledge that. We should not make us smaller than we are. We want to prove seven times in the next spell that we deserve to be the favourites. We need a certain mentality to do so. If favourite means things will be easy, we cannot be more wrong and this is the total wrong path to go. If being favourite means we still expect a tough one tomorrow at Brentford then this is a good one to accept.”
Tuchel’s emphasis that Chelsea should not be shy of their tag of favourites is crucial. Making a run for the league title will be a new experience for many of the Blues’ squad despite winning the Champions League. Slip ups against the likes of Aston Villa and Southampton last season were part of the Stamford Bridge side not challenging more comprehensively in the league. Chelsea, despite not always been convincing, have overcome those hurdles this season and must have the mentality to continue to do so. To prove they will be in the title race until the end, despite competing on multiple fronts. It won’t be an easy, but as Tuchel outlines, it should be exactly why any player wants to play for Chelsea.
Thomas Tuchel said: “In the end, we have to take all the pressure off our shoulders and take risks in the game, play with a certain freedom because with a fear of losing a status you can win absolutely nothing. That’s why if you sign for Chelsea, if you work for Chelsea, if you play for Chelsea then you play to win. You cannot be surprised if you are the favourites in a game against Brentford, but does this change any expectation? Hopefully not. One we have our expectation right, what we expect from tomorrow’s game, once we have the attitude right, we have the attitude right, we hopefully get the result right. This is what we are doing and this is where the focus is. Then we know we have spell of seven games. It is seven different ones and tough ones and I have coached an underdog team long enough in Germany to know how capable you can be as a group to close the gap in modern football. It is possible in modern football. Now we are on the other side and I try to make a point in every single game and it starts with tomorrow.”
Tuchel might have injuries leaving him without his strongest team, but Chelsea will retain their status as favourites. Now, they must live up to that title, and everyone in the Blues’ squad must embrace it. But acknowledge that the Blues will be favourites in their upcoming games and he’s right on board. Chelsea sit at the summit of the Premier League table and have already faced Liverpool and Manchester City this season. Those have been the two games where the Blues have dropped points, but shouldn’t be where Tuchel’s side fall behind, if they capitalise against weaker opposition. Brentford, Malmo, Norwich, Southampton, Newcastle, Malmo and Burnley lie in wait before the international break, and it’s the perfect opportunity for the league leaders to capitalise and progress well in three different competitions.
