Malmo manager sends Thomas Tuchel stern warning ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League encounter
Following a poor performance in the reverse fixture, Malmo manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has demanded more from his team against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.
The Swedish champions were defeated at Stamford Bridge, despite the fact that the Blues’ best players, Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, were forced to withdraw due to injuries.
However, this did not stop the goals from leaking in at the back for Malmo, who have now conceded an abysmal 11 goals in only three games this season in the Champions League group stage.
Tomasson has asked his team to ‘turn up to the party’ this time around, unlike the last time they played in west London, which is expected to draw a local crowd of around 22,500 on Tuesday evening.
“We are playing against a very good side, probably one of the best but we go on the pitch to get a good result,” the former Newcastle forward said at his pre-match press conference on Monday, via The Independent.
“We are involved in this party playing Champions League and we want to be part of the party.
“We want to see a team playing for our supporters with everything, with this great spirit they showed the other day in Sirius (a 3-2 league win).
“I think it’s the first time in more than two years we have a full stadium in a European night.”
The ex-Denmark international then went on to add: “Malmo is a Champions League city, Malmo is a Champions League club.
“Being involved in those games, I think we can be very proud for all of the players, all of the staff, the whole club, and our supporters that we are part of this successful journey and tomorrow is a game where we want to give everything to make an upset against a very good side and we go for that.
“We haven’t had a full stadium for almost two years in Europe.
“It’s a long time so I want to have a crazy stadium tomorrow with supporters and we will do everything to get a good result.”
Despite being heavy favorites for the game in Scandinavia, Chelsea manager Tuchel is preparing his players for what could be a ‘extraordinary performance’ by their Swedish opponents.
He said in his pre-Malmo press conference: “It’s the fifth or sixth game in a row where we are considered favourites and I like how my team consider these matches. We give a lot of effort and intensity. We proved out point on the pitch and it is required tomorrow.
“Malmo maybe need an extraordinary performance and they will prepare for this. Any team at his level is to create an extraordinary performance. So we should be prepared, humble and respectful towards the game because anything can happen.”
A win for the Blues in this match will almost certainly guarantee them a place in the round of 16, as Tuchel and co. look to move one step closer to defending their European title.
Malmo manager sends Thomas Tuchel stern warning ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League encounter
