Tuchel’s big test is about to begin

THE end of Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea honeymoon began midweek — and the German now faces a run of games crucial to his hopes of securing Champions League football.

Victory against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday has put Chelsea within reach of the quarter-finals but a topfour finish remains a minimum requirement.

Starting against Manchester United on Sunday, Tuchel will go head-tohead with three direct rivals for the Champions League positions, with games against Liverpool and Everton following in quick succession.

A testing trip to Leeds comes before the second leg with Atletico.

Tuchel’s instant impact at Stamford Bridge already looks to have justified Roman Abramovich’s decision to remove Frank Lampard last month, with Chelsea undefeated in eight games in all competitions and two points off fourth-placed West Ham.

But the new manager has also had the benefit of a relatively comfortable introduction to English football, with the win at Tottenham his most challenging test on paper domestically.

Even after the euphoria of Tuesday’s victory, Tuchel was determined to focus minds. He is still frustrated with himself for last week’s draw at Southampton as Chelsea dropped out of the top four.

“We cannot get comfortable, we cannot get lazy,” he said. “These games will push us to our limits.”

Tuchel was told upon his arrival at Chelsea he was expected to deliver immediately. Champions League qualification is essential, while silverware would leave him sitting much more comfortably as he enters the final 12 months of his contract. Just this week he was frank about his reaction to the 18-month deal he was given, acknowledging the risk to his position if he does not secure a top-four finish. “I was worried about that in the beginning,” Tuchel (left) told BT Sport. “It was like, ‘They don’t trust me? What is this? 18 months?’

“What do they think? They are so many points behind place number four. So maybe we don’t make it, which is still possible we don’t make it because still it is a hard race, and then it is easy to sack me again.

“Then after some minutes it was like, ‘What does it change, anyway?’ I took it off my shoulders.”