Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is expecting an ’emotional’ game at Elland Road on Sunday, against a Leeds United side that ‘loves the chaos’.
Thomas Tuchel said: “I expect a high-intensity game, a high-pressing team from Leeds and a very emotional stadium. who will be in the dugout at Elland Road despite being sent off in Chelsea’s game against Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday. “We had a fantastic game last season at Elland Road and scored very early, very dominant and very focused and effective in front of goal. Of course, there was an early red card that played into our hands. Still, it was a very good performance. This is what we expect. Repetitive intensity, high-pressing and a team that loves the chaos, a team of Leeds that has a high acceptance for mistakes. They don’t get frustrated by mistakes, they accept mistakes as chances to do counter-pressing and so on. We have to be well aware and also to manage our expectations, our level of acceptance for mistakes because mistakes against these high intensive teams like Liverpool, Leeds, Southampton, who have a certain style of pressing – you make mistakes. You cannot play without mistakes against these teams. You accept it before the match and make the best out of it, find the spaces. There is not a lot of time for decision making and this is what we prepare for now in training and hope to be on our top level and to find the level we had last week to be able to prove the statistics wrong! I did not know about it (record at Elland Road). So thanks for telling me!”
Thomas Tuchel does not understand why Mike Dean waited four days to admit he made a mistake in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham – and the Blues head says he will “survive” the touchline ban that has been down by the FA following his post-match spat with Antonio Conte.
Thomas Tuchel said: “I will survive it. It is not a problem. Of course, I am prepared for it because we know about the possibility that it can happen. It is a bit harder to accept given the context that two minutes before somebody on our team got pulled by the hair. So I just made fun…if we both pulled our hair maybe we would have got away with it for a red card. For a handshake, the way it was it suddenly a red card, it was after the match and it was more passion than anything else, but I accepted the charge we are waiting now for the decision. I hope like Antonio that I can be on the sideline.”
Thomas Tuchel added: “I will be prepared, of course. I understand there is a high possibility that I can travel with the team, go to the dressing room, be there in half time. So I’m not always sure if everybody hears me on the sideline so maybe the impact is not bad.”
It was in an interview released on Thursday that Dean accepted his error in not telling Taylor to view the Romero/Cucurella incident on the pitchside monitor. Yet that has done little to appease Tuchel.
Thomas Tuchel said: “My concern is more why it takes so long. It will not change stuff, unfortunately, but the decision is more than just a bad decision. I fully understand that in 99% of decisions, we are discussing about [things like] handball or not handball. But sometimes I don’t even fully understand the rules and there are always explanations. Is there contact? is it a follow-through? Is it an elbow actively or does it run into the elbow? Is it enough for a penalty or is it not enough? We can discuss endlessly but it is a new level of mistake. And for such an obvious and clear mistake with such an enormous consequence immediately for the outcome of a game, it was very, very hard to accept and to understand. What I cannot understand is it takes a grown-up man, a referee, from Sunday to Friday (Thursday) to admit this mistake.”
Tuchel was also critical of Taylor’s performance against Tottenham and questioned whether the referee should oversee Chelsea games in the future. However, the Blues head coach insists he was not doubting the “integrity or honour” of the official, who supporters have long felt aggrieved with.
Thomas Tuchel said: “I was asked several times about it [Taylor’s performance] and this was my answer. I think it is more than just a feeling. There are some statistics that underline that we struggle to get the same results with him refereeing. Again, we never attacked or questioned his integrity or honour. It was about this game and I think it was in an acceptable way without being personal or falling out of line. Of course, I am passionate about this club and about my team and in moments when we fight and we play a game at the level that we played it. It kind of sucks me into the matches and I also get very passionate about it. I will accept it [if Taylor referees Chelsea games in the future] but I just said maybe it would be better. And I stick to my words, maybe it would be better, who knows? I want to make it very clear I did not attack his integrity, I did not question it. I said very, very early that the two decisions were decisions for the VAR. But I was not happy with the way he whistles the game but ok. But this is what happens. This will go to the board (independent regulatory commission) and they will decide.”
