TUCHEL’S MISFIRING STARS

NORMAL order was restored as Chelsea warmed up for their battle at the Bernabeu in blistering fashion.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel had demanded a return to winning ways following two hefty home defeats in the less than a week – to Brentford and Real Madrid.

And his faltering stars answered that call by running riot on the south coast against pathetic Southampton.

Timo Werner and Mason Mount both scored twice as Chelsea, four up at the break, smashed six of the best to lighten Tuchel’s mood before Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final, second leg in Madrid.

Pre-match Tuchel revealed he had been ‘very clear’ in a team crisis meeting. Forget the takeover troubles. They are not an excuse. That was the gist of his message.

It did not fall on deaf ears, either, and after this romp the German ordered more of the same in Spain, where his European champions must overturn a 3-1 deficit.

Tuchel said: “It was necessary to turn things around after those five days and the moment to tell the truth – myself included. Obviously, everybody took it the right way. We turned up here in an impressive manner. Both defensively and in attack.

“Now, it’s time to move on and take this forward.”

Tuchel made four changes from the line-up soundly trounced by Real Madrid.

Werner, Marcos Alonso, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were recalled while £100million-misfit Romelu Lukaku and skipper Cesar Azpilicueta were missing, through injury and Covid, respectively.

And Tuchel heaped praise on Werner – who had one league goal before yesterday – saying: “It was set for him to make a