Thomas Tuchel has admitted he is worried about the number of mistakes his players are committing and he claims this could reduce their self-confidence and belief in what they are doing.
The German also claims that their recent struggles could affect their hopes of finishing in the top four. Chelsea is third on the league table five points above fourth and fifth place Tottenham and Arsenal.
The Blues have only earned 26 points from 15 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge this season, and have been soundly thrashed in their previous three home matches, conceding 11 goals in defeats to Brentford (1-4), Real Madrid (1-3), and Arsenal (2-4).
What was said?
Speaking at the pre-match conference ahead of their Premier League clash with West Ham, Tuchel admitted he is concerned about the recent costly errors that have resulted in their loss three consecutive matches in a row at Stamford Bridge and eluded to the fact that his side could be drag out of the top four.
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“I’m worried about the number of mistakes,” Tuchel said. “In the year 2022, we already had eight big mistakes that led to goals. This is very untypical, very unusual.
“It costs us a lot. Not only a goal, but it also costs you self-confidence and belief in what you are doing.
“‘It’s a bit fragile at the moment,” Tuchel added, referencing mistakes made by Edouard Mendy and Andreas Christensen in recent games. “You know he can do better and normally does. Andreas knows it’s the right decision to play the ball back. It’s not that we take crazy risks. So it’s hard to analyze.
“I never feel secure in the Premier League. Nobody should. Feeling secure does not keep you on the edge. Feeling secure is very close to being lazy or not fully alert.
Thomas Tuchel also revealed that Chelsea’s woes could be caused by the fact that they have played over 55 matches and fatigue and the psychological strain of being knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Real Madrid.
“Maybe it comes back to me because I should push them and make them alert. It’s human to be tired, human to be more alert in a knockout game than normal matches,” he continued. “Sometimes it’s also good, the foundation to play 60 games. At Mainz with one game a week, every game was like a cup final and the players were drained until Tuesday.
“At Dortmund, players gave everything physically in a normal match but mentally it was not the same stress level. It’s OK to feel less tension in front of a normal home match in the Premier League than if you go to the Bernabeu.
“It is maybe less tension, excitement, and pressure. But it cannot lead to being less alert or having less investment. This can never happen. We cannot run more or do more sprints and more effort than against Madrid or Brentford. There were no doubts about it as we had the physical data.
“It’s a little bit like this but not in the same way against Arsenal. That’s why it’s tough to really understand the reasons why.”
Chelsea will face West Ham United in a tricky London derby, Thomas Tuchel will hope his side avoids another defeat at Stamford Bridge.
