Manager attempts to lift FA Cup finalists for final few games of the campaign
\n LONDON
\nThomas Tuchel admitted Tuesday that Chelsea\u2019s gruelling season was taking its toll on his players as he attempts to lift the FA Cup finalists for the final few games of the campaign.
\nChelsea, third in the Premier League, are one point ahead of London rivals Arsenal after just one win in their past five games.
\nThe stumble for the Stamford Bridge side, who play Liverpool in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday having already lost to the Merseysiders in the League Cup final, follows their aggregate defeat by Real Madrid in last month\u2019s Champions League quarter-finals.
\nChelsea have been operating under a cloud of uncertainty after Russian owner Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale in early March \u2013 just days before he was sanctioned by the British government following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.
\n\u201cWe look a bit drained, tired mentally… this is understandable given the circumstances around the club in which we play in,\u201d Tuchel said on the eve of Wednesday\u2019s match against struggling Leeds.
\n\u201cThis is draining, this is challenging. We had some knockout games in which we play after the national break, with huge emotional input, huge emotions to deal with.
\n\u201cFrom losing to Real Madrid, winning at Real Madrid (second leg), losing the Champions League then suddenly being at Wembley and then suddenly in the race in two weeks with four matches against different teams in the Premier League.
\n\u201cIt is quite challenging. After all we have a lot of matches in our legs, in our bones.\u201d
\nTuchel said he felt his side could do better than they had done in their past two fixtures \u2013 a defeat by Everton followed by a draw against Wolves.
\n\u201cIt was not a lack of motivation (against Wolves), it was the opposite,\u201d the German boss added.
\n\u201cThere was good signs. We trust the team, we trust our players and trust what brought us here.
\n\u201cNow is the moment for me to stay calm, take it step by step and finish the season on a positive note.\u201d
\nTuchel cancelled the players\u2019 day off on Sunday following the 2-2 home draw with Wolves.
\n\u201cWe came in on Sunday, we\u2019d planned a free day but after the disappointment it was not even to punish them,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was normally a free day, and of course maybe some felt it was a punishment but it wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Manager attempts to lift FA Cup finalists for final few games of the campaign LONDON Thomas Tuchel admitted Tuesday that Chelsea\u2019s gruelling season was taking its toll on his players as he attempts to lift the FA Cup finalists for the final few games of the campaign. Chelsea, third in the Premier League, are one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":260052,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[3245,7154,4062],"class_list":{"0":"post-260035","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-chelsea","9":"tag-drained","10":"tag-tuchel"},"yoast_head":"\n