Tuchel Admits Super League Distraction Accounted For Poor Chelsea Display Against Brighton
Thomas Tuchel has admitted that the hullabaloo surrounding the European Super League accounted for Chelsea’s poor display against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
The footballing space has been dominated by the breakaway competition in recent days, relegating otherwise compelling news items like Jose Mourinho’s dismissal by Tottenham Hotspurs and important games in the quest for European football into the background.
Fresh from advancing to the FA Cup final after edging out Manchester City over the weekend, Chelsea produced a tepid display against Graham Potters men on home grounds and missed the chance to move up to third on the league table by getting just a point in a 0-0 draw that was only good enough to move them to fourth position.
The build-up to the game was overshadowed by Chelsea fans staging a protest outside Stamford Bridge over the club’s involvement in the European Super League; a decision which has since been reversed.
Tuchel admits the uproar before the game could have had a negative impact on his boys.
"We talk of nothing else but Super League before the match. I was affected so I think the players were affected," Tuchel said post-match.
"The situation was not clear. I was informed like you were informed. You have to accept the distraction."
"We tried to create an atmosphere to win the game but could not. We looked mentally tired."
Chelsea are back in action against West Ham United on Saturday.
