Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Rodgers cool on Foxes hunt
Tuchel admits he once tried to sign Suarez.. the striker with intensity and anger who he fears could return to, er, BITE the Blues..and leave his mark again
BRENDAN RODGERS is not even thinking about Champions League football for his in-form Leicester side.
The Foxes sit third in the table, six points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea.
Rodgers (above, with Jamie Vardy) said: “I’ve not really thought about the top four. On the first day I came in I said my ambition is to get regular European football for this club.
“We want to see if we can disrupt the market and challenge these top clubs. Beyond that I’m not thinking much further ahead.”
THOMAS TUCHEL admits he tried to sign Luis Suarez for Paris Saint-germain but insists he will not be trying to bring him to Chelsea.
The Blues face an Atletico Madrid side in the Champions League tonight led by Suarez, who is the top scorer in La Liga this season with 16 goals.
The Uruguay star has history with Chelsea after infamously biting Branislav Ivanovic in a 2-2 draw at Anfield in 2013 when he was still at Liverpool.
But the string of controversies that have dogged his career did not stop Tuchel trying to land him when the German was still PSG boss in September.
Tuchel said: “There was a possibility.
“Who could not be interested to sign one of the best strikers in world football, in history and in the present?
“We tried our luck, we did not make it, he chose to stay in Spain, and again he proves his
quality.” Suarez has yet to score in the Champions League this season and is goalless in his last three league games.
But Tuchel said: “He is a natural-born striker, he has the mentality that only strikers have to show his will, his intensity, his anger, and to score and score and score.
“He is never satisfied. What a mentality. What a player. I’m not involved in this history with Chelsea, it’s never a good thing to look too far behind.”
PSG were on a list of clubs Barcelona told Suarez he was not allowed to join when he was forced out.
No one thought to add Atletico – and it has come back to bite the Catalans, who are now trailing in the Madrid side’s wake.
But Tuchel insists he will not waste any time thinking about trying to sign Suarez, who is now 34, for Chelsea any time soon.
Tuchel said: “He would have maybe benefited our squad in Paris. Now things are different. I think he’s under contract.
“It’s not worth thinking about it. And the possibility is not high that we will think about it.” Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta played in that infamous game eight years ago when Suarez made headlines for biting Ivanovic.
The Blues defender said: “The best way to defend him is to keep him as far away from the goal as possible! He is a great striker, we know his numbers.”
Suarez has been a perfect fit with Atletico, who have a similar reputation as a spiky, confrontational, wind-up outfit. Tuchel said: “It’s clear when you play Atletico what you get – you get hard fighting.
“This is for sure a big test physically and mentally.
“This is exactly what we want. Hopefully it will bring out the best in us.
“We will play our way and they will play their way.”
The Blues take on an Atletico side whose lead at the top of La Liga has been cut to three points after a recent downturn in form.
And Tuchel admitted his side will have an advantage after the away leg of this last-16 tie was moved to a neutral venue in Bucharest due to Covid restrictions.
The Blues boss, who takes charge of Chelsea in Europe for the first time, said: “It is amazing and exciting to play Champions League games.
“In the knockout stage you know you arrive at the highest level when you play Atletico in the first round.”
17
Last day of the Prem &
MAY
City crowd could enjoy
23
BY
FOOTBALL fans were yesterday given the news they have been
League title coronation
waiting for – crowds can go back to matches.
Up to 10,000 supporters will be allowed into games from May 17,
Delayed Euros begin
just in time for the final afternoon of the Premier League season on Sunday,
11
May 23.
& there could be full
It is a day when Manchester City could celebrate being champions as they face Everton at home.
houses at some ties
And with the announcement from
Prime Minister Boris Johnson that all