Think we know what it takes and have what it takes to challenge for title, proclaims Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel
|Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel believes that the Blues do have what it takes to challenge for the Premier League title and admitted that he doesn’t want to wait to build a squad before doing so. The Blues have endured a tough time recently, winning just four of their last thirteen league matches.
After what can only be called a fantastic start to the season, things started to unravel for Chelsea after a 3-2 loss to West Ham in early December. Since then, the Blues have won just four of their last thirteen league games and it has seen them drop off the title race with them now 13 points behind league leaders Manchester City. Not only that, it has seen controversy hit the club with Romelu Lukaku pointing out his unhappiness at Thomas Tuchel’s tactics.
While that situation has been dealt with and the Belgian has even been brought back into the Chelsea fold, their form continues to falter and the pressure on Tuchel has increased. Yet, the German admitted that he believes that Chelsea’s current squad is good enough to win the league title and doesn’t want to wait to build a proper squad like Manchester City. Tuchel also added that he is very impatient and that the team has what it takes to challenge City.
“Maybe, but we will never accept it (when asked if it’s a slow process for Chelsea to build their squad). Even myself, I will always fight against it. I never said it and even if I can see the reason behind it, that we need time, time, time, we don’t have time and I don’t want to wait.
“I am awfully impatient and this is part of what drives me and part of what brings me to a great opportunity – to be part of a club like Chelsea. I think we are competitive. I think we know what it takes and we have what it takes to challenge for the title.”
The Blues have been, however, affected badly by COVID-19 positive tests and various injuries to key components of their squad which has played into their lack of form. It saw Tuchel admit that they haven’t been able to change that situation which is why they struggled. He also revealed that during the 1-1 draw to Brighton, he saw just how disappointed his team were but believes that they are fully committed to the cause.
“We could not influence the circumstances and we struggled there. I could feel on Tuesday the disappointment from the players, also from me, that we are in the stage where we are right at this moment. But it does not help. We still are obliged and it is our duty to have full commitment – by full I mean 100% – to what we do and to what we believe and to how we do things.Â
“The rest will take care of itself. I love the team, I love all the players and I love the club. It’s on us to bring out the very best in ourselves. Where this is over the last weeks, it depends on the circumstances. But we will always try,” he added.
