Tuchel blames Super League distraction vs Brighton.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted the barrage of Super League questions he received before the clash is to blame for his team scoreless draw against Brighton.
Chelsea had signaled their intention to join the controversial new Super League over the weekend with Tuchel admitting that he was given late notice about the move.
In the build-up to Tuesday’s Brighton match, Tuchel tried to remain neutral about the new development in an effort to cool emotions.
With the topic becoming too big for the German to evade, Tuchel then appeared flat on the pitch, perhaps with the fierce backlash from fans toward the Super League front of mind, as they “tried to create an atmosphere to win the game but could not”.
However, Chelsea reversed the course of Joining the new competition and announced they would back out of the Super League.
Tuchel who blames League distraction vs Brighton said:
“I was clearly not happy, nobody was and that can happen even if we had the best preparation.
ALSO READ:
- Chelsea legend Petr Cech pleads with protesting fans to allow bus into Stamford Bridge ahead of Brighton game.
- 14 Premier League teams vote “unanimously and vigorously” against the proposals of the Super League.
- Chelsea and Manchester City and Real Madrid likely to be knocked out of this season’s Champions League according to UEFA delegate predictions.
- Clubs could earn more than they earn in the Champions League in the new Super League competition.
“The situation was not clear. I was informed like you were informed. … You didn’t ask me about the match at all beforehand. You prepare a match, but it is strange that nobody is talking about it.
“It was not our best game – the opponents defended well and we weren’t in the same rhythm. Maybe we were tired and a bit distracted, maybe a combination and it wasn’t our best performance.”
Tuchel expanded on those thoughts in a separate interview with Sky Sports.
“I was affected so I think the players were affected,” the manager said. “We talk of nothing else but Super League before the match. Nobody asked about the match before. It is like this. You have to accept the distraction. We tried to create an atmosphere to win the game but could not.
“We were sloppy when we did win the ball. We were not precise enough. We have to accept that we did not deserve [to win].
“We made big mistakes, looked tired, mentally tired. We did not deserve to win maybe for the first time since I arrived here.”
ALSO READ:
- UEFA to ban clubs and players from competing in competitions should they join Super League.
- Ten Premier League 2020/2021 most underrated players.
- Ranking of Top 10 Best European clubs of the decade.
- 10 footballers who murdered.
