Thomas Tuchel takes blame for Chelsea defeat against Arsenal, ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final clash versus Leicester


Thomas Tuchel takes blame for Chelsea defeat against Arsenal, ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final clash versus Leicester

Chelsea suffers a 1-0 loss at home to city rivals Arsenal

Chelsea hopes of securing a spot in next seasons Champions League took a major blow after they suffered a bizarre 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Wednesday. However Chelsea FC manager Thomas Tuchel asserted that it’ll be a good lesson as well as a wakeup call ahead of an all important FA Cup final against Leicester this Saturday at Wembley.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chelsea are six points clear of West Ham United who have three matches left and seven ahead of Liverpool with four on the Premier League table. Tuchel’s side would have sealed a Premier League top-four finish with a win, but instead have to wait for others to drop points to secure an automatic qualification in next season’s Champions League group stage.

Emile Smith Rowe’s first-half goal settled the London derby after a defensive mix-up by the hosts in which Jorginho’s wayward backpass was scrambled off the line by Kepa Arrizabalaga but unfortunately it fell sweetly into the feet Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who teed up Smith Rowe to give them a 1-0 lead which proved to be decisive.

Tuchel conceded that he wasn’t happy with his team selection

A bizarre backpass from Jorginho that put Arsenal in the lead
A bizarre backpass from Jorginho that put Arsenal in the lead

With an FA Cup final on Saturday against Leicester City, Tuchel made a number of changes to his starting lineup. It resulted in only a third defeat in 26 games in all competitions for Tuchel and left Chelsea in fourth spot in the Premier League with two games to play.

ADVERTISEMENT

Having already made five changes to face Manchester City at the weekend from the side that beat Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, Tuchel kept only four players from that game to face the Gunners on Wednesday night – and admitted it had been a step too far.

Tuchel was seen fuming at the goal Chelsea conceded due to defensive mixup. “Totally our fault, nobody else’s. We lost, it’s totally our responsibility. We had huge chances. We made an own goal more or less — total gift,” proved Tuchel’s admittance of his teams lacklustre performance.

“We weren’t on the pitch with the same energy, it wasn’t easy to come up with the intensity and passing. We weren’t sharp enough and didn’t have the same hunger and attitude as we’re used to playing with. So it’s on us.” 

Tuchel wasn’t too happy with his team selection either as was evident from his post match interview to Sky Sports;

ADVERTISEMENT

“We had three days, we are on a good run, we had a good mood. The choices were not so good today from my side for the line-up so that’s on me. We were unlucky, of course. But we did everything today to lose. I’m not happy with my line-up. It’s easy to say afterwards. But it was too many changes, I should not have done it like this. It’s something in particular – but I will not tell you.

Also Read : The Champions League 2020-21 Final is getting increasingly likely to be shifted to Porto from Istanbul due covid to restrictions levied in England

“I felt it a little bit coming yesterday in training. I’m a bit unlucky that it’s proven today on the pitch. I regret… but it’s like this. ‘We could have [done this], we could have [done that]’, and that’s what it’s all about.” Tuchel was found saying after the loss.

Tuchel made these changes with Satuday’s Chelsea vs Leicester Final in mind

Tuchel disclosed that he made the changes with Saturday's final in mind
Tuchel disclosed that he made the changes with Saturday’s final in mind

“Maybe I gave some signs to the team that Saturday is on my mind, even if it’s only five per cent, or one per cent, that is not how you approach things and you get punished, because you cannot be naive.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chelsea’s result opens the door to both West Ham and Liverpool who are also in contention for a top four finish, who will sit three and one point behind them if they win their respective games in hand, and saw Arsenal retaining the 9th spot with 55 points.

Also read : Manchester United’s Harry Maguire is unlikely to feature before the Europa League Final against Villareal after suffering a serious injury away at Aston Villa

Also Read : WATCH : Jorginho’s careless back pass hands Arsenal the first goal against Chelsea