Thomas Tuchel takes the blame as Chelsea head into pivotal five days in their domestic season
BY PAUL LAGAN
Chelsea head into a massive five days that could define their domestic season.
They go to Wembley tomorrow to face Leicester City in the FA Cup final on the back of a terrible league performance against Arsenal on Wednesday that saw them lose 1-0 at home.
A win would have put them above the Foxes, into third place in the Premier League – they then face the same opposition in the league, on Tuesday which they have to win to cement themselves in the top four.
The Champions League final against Manchester City is at the end of the month but it’s the coming days that the Blues need to focus on and manager Thomas Tuchel admits he got it all wrong in midweek.
A horror Jorginho error allowed the north Londoners to snatch the points.
Tuchel, pictured, said: “It was my fault, nobody else’s. We had huge chances, but we were not in the right shape, or played with enough intensity.
“Perhaps there were too many changes from the last match, it was a wake-up call for all of us.
“I felt it was coming in training and it proved to be the case.
“My choices were not good with the line-up, but the top four is still in our hands.”
Emma Hayes’ charges face Barcelona on Sunday in the final of the Women’s Champions League in Gothenburg having retained their WSL title by thrashing Reading 5-0 on Sunday.
It’s history in the making for Chelsea and Hayes knows the Spanish outfit will be a tough side to overcome.
She said: “Barcelona have been exceptional for many seasons. They have been building towards their own Champions League success. I think the fact they are overwhelming favourites by the bookies suggests that form over a period of time has earned the right for them.
“For once we are the underdogs – in the bookies’ eyes, I might add. We are approaching our best form.
“I really believe there’s another level in us. I’m so looking forward to the weekend, to watching us find that level again and to see how we can compete to the honour of being champions of Europe.”
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