Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Kop boss turning on the charm for Salah and Mane...
have to admit that City have 27 more points than us and 33 more than Liverpool.
“We are next in that race but it’s a big gap — a big gap in points and goals scored.
“I said, when I arrived, we have to close the gap as soon as possible and this will not stop. Maybe it’s longer than a one-season race to catch City because they will not stop improving. But the huge difference currently is the situation with injuries and Covid.
“I am convinced that, if we are in the same place without injuries and having key players not out for weeks and being hit by Covid so hard at the same time, we would have more points and could still be in the back of them.
“Everything maybe needs to fall into place for us so that we can produce the kind of consistent level that City, and normally Liverpool, can produce. That’s why there’s no need to get negative, no need to lose faith.
“The opposite — we will stay hungry.
“Jurgen did it with Dortmund. We came close and were stopped, unfortunately, in the middle of the process.
“So both of us know how to catch favourites and we will not stop doing it, or trying to do it.”
Tuchel’s most recent struggles started last month with three draws and a defeat, costing Chelsea points in the title race through injuries and illness.
To add insult to those injuries, then came the airing of that Romelu Lukaku (right) interview last week.
Tuchel added: “It has been pretty challenging. Things are easier if you have results, the noise is not so loud, the distractions not so heavy.
“In high-level sports, these things can feel like you’re running against the wind.
“It’s challenging, but nothing we don’t like — we’re still good to go because we love what we do.”