Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was justifiably thrilled with his team’s 6-0 win over Southampton on Saturday, particularly the manner in which they achieved it.
It was their largest win margin since a 7-0 loss to Norwich in October, and it was based on a strong start, with attack after assault from the outset and three goals in the first quarter.
Tuchel praised his team’s performance, praising the number of one-on-one challenges won.
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The German tactician in his post- match said “It was key to this performance because it’s not only a passing game, it’s not only a possession game against Southampton, it’s also about accepting the physicality.
“By winning the challenges, we had chances to be dangerous and offensive in transition,’ he said.
“We were strong in counter-attacking and in possession very focused.’
Contrasting this big win with the previous two results, the boss said:
“I think it tells us that we are not a team to escape with only 80 to 90 per cent of our energy, commitment and investment.
“We are a special group when we have the priorities right – if we are committed, if we defend with courage.
*This is our foundation to then show the quality and that we are a strong group and this is a special group of players.
“There are some reasons why it’s not always easy for us to have this hunger and the commitment and the physical input, because we come from an awful lot of matches.
“That’s why it’s not always easy, but this is the reality we need, and it’s not about blaming the players.
“I can understand there a lot of reasons why it was hard for us often. It just proves the point again today.’
Tuchel reinstated Timo Werner today after starting him against Brentford but leaving him on the bench against Real Madrid in midweek.
The striker retaliated by scoring two goals and hitting the crossbar three times.
Tuchel while responding to Werner performance said he decided to play with two strikers.
“We decided to play with two strikers, it was his favourite position against an opponent where we knew they would press high.
“The connection was amazing with Kai and Kova.
“He loves to play with them and we found spaces in behind because it’s a higher attacking opponent.
“So it was set out for him to deliver and make a statement that he does not give up and is still an important player of this club.’
Tuchel is doubtful if Cesar Azpilicueta, who missed the game due to Covid, and Romelu Lukaku, who is injured, will be fit for Wednesday’s encounter in Madrid.
“He [Lukaku] wasn’t in training yesterday, he was in too much pain,’ he reported.
“There is not a lot of time, we have only two training sessions, and we leave the country on Monday.
“We need to wait, I have no answer right now.”