SCREAM BLUE MURDER
Fans must be better than last Saturday says Tuchel
CHELSEA V R MADRID 8PM, BT SPORT
THOMAS TUCHEL has ordered Chelsea fans to bring their loudest voices and roar his players to victory against Real Madrid tonight.
The Chelsea head coach was disappointed with the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge during the surprise 4-1 defeat by Brentford on Saturday, and wants the crowd to be “better” for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Tuchel said: “Do we need the Stamford Bridge crowd to help? Absolutely we need.
“We need to be better on the pitch but we also need the crowd to be better. “Everyone has to be on the front foot for a big opponent on a big occasion.
“We normally have these atmospheres in evening games and big matches.
“In the Champions League matches they have given us a huge push in energy and atmosphere.
“We needed it – they were crucial in these games. Everyone needs to arrive to support us.” The German also made no attempt to hide the fact that the players need to be better too.
“We had a day off which was necessary to digest Saturday’s result,” Tuchel said.
“We talked about it but it was not a special team talk.
“It was a crucial loss and we absolutely did not like what happened – it was the exception to the rule.
“We were open and allowed ourselves to focus on this match, which was needed.”
Last year a brave performance in a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu gave Chelsea a perfect platform to go on and defeat Real 2-0 in their semifinal second leg at Stamford Bridge, where no fans were allowed because of lockdown.
But Tuchel will not read anything into that result – even to the extent of refusing to watch the video.
“Last season has nothing to do with this game,” he said. “We looked at their last matches – but not last year.
“We must bounce back from Saturday and play in the right way, the way we want to.
“To be physical, intense and focused. We need to be at our very best.
“We overcame Real last season but it has nothing to do with this game. It’s a new coach and a new team.”
That new coach is, of course, an old coach – Real’s former Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti, left.
The Italian missed their 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday because of Covid but is still hoping to pass a PCR test and fly out ahead of the game.
“I hope he still makes it,” Tuchel said.
“It’s always much better to be there as a direct influence.
“He’s a big personality and it would be nice to have him on the sidelines in these games.”