Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admitted he made too many changes to his side’s starting line-up for the Premier League clash against Arsenal, which resulted in their defeat.
Tuchel made seven changes to his line-up on Wednesday night ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup final against Leicester City.
Despite having 62 per cent possession and 19 shots throughout, The Blues fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat following a 16th-minute winner from Emile Smith Rowe.
Chelsea’s loss to Arsenal ensured the Gunners completed a double over the Blues this season – their first in 17 years.
However, it has been a busy schedule for Tuchel’s side following their Champions League semi-final clash against Real Madrid last Wednesday.
They secured a deserved win against Manchester City just three days later, where the Chelsea manager made five changes, but he admits to chopping and changing too much in this instance.
“We had three days, we are on a good run, we had a good mood. The choices were not so good today from my side for the line-up so that’s on me,” Tuchel told Sky Sports after the game.
“We were unlucky, of course. But we did everything today to lose.
“I’m not happy with my line-up. It’s easy to say afterwards. But it was too many changes, I should not have done it like this. It’s something in particular – but I will not tell you.
“I felt it a little bit coming yesterday in training. I’m a bit unlucky that it’s proven today on the pitch. I regret… but it’s like this. ‘We could have [done this], we could have [done that]’, and that’s what it’s all about.
“I did not feel us in the same way involved, sharp with intensity and energy like the last game and these are the per cents who are missing today.”
Tuchel was again critical of his decision to make wholesale changes: “We all lacked concentration and focus, that is very unusual.
“Maybe I gave some signs to the team that Saturday is on my mind, even if it’s only five per cent or one per cent, that is not how you approach things and you get punished because you cannot be naive.”
Do you think Chelsea can win the upcoming FA Cup final against Leicester after such performance against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side?
Please, share your thoughts in the comments section below…
