Tuchel not ready to tempt fate over a title challenge
AND to think Romelu Lukaku is waiting in the wings. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will not be getting carried away but it must be difficult not to.
Fresh from their second Champions League triumph, Chelsea have been billed as one of Manchester City’s main rivals for the Premier League crown.
‘I see us as the No4 and the challenge for the No4 is to close
the gap to No3, No2 and No1. We are in the role of hunters,’ said Tuchel, as he tried to play down his team’s title chances.
You are not kidding anyone, Thomas. Your team look every inch championship contenders.
Were they at their best? Probably not. But they swept Crystal Palace aside with minimal fuss courtesy of goals from Marcos Alonso, Christian Pulisic and debutant Trevoh Chalobah.
They say the ability to win when not playing well wins titles. Well, if that is the case, then Chelsea look to be well equipped.
This was not necessarily the sort of performance that will send shivers up Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp. It was one, though, that suggests Chelsea will be there or thereabouts in May.
This was, of course, a tough first gig for new Palace manager Patrick Vieira. He could have done without facing the European champions on his first outing as a Premier League boss. Palace will, however, have to learn quickly or a miserable season may lie ahead.
Alonso opened the scoring when he executed a beautifully arcing free-kick in the 25th minute, Palace keeper Vicente Guaita rooted to the spot as the Chelsea left-back’s effort sailed past him.
A second goal was inevitable and it arrived in the 40th minute when Pulisic bundling home after Guaita mishandled in the six-yard box.
Timo Werner, who will fear being the fall guy in Lukaku’s return to the Bridge, picked up where he left off last season, squandering a good opportunity served up by Alonso on the stroke of half-time to really rub Palace’s faces in it.
But it was game over by that point — Alonso and Pulisic had seen to that.
The second half was nothing more than a procession that sparked into life when Chalobah, on his first Premier League start, crashed home a low strike.
The Chelsea debutant dropped to his knees and later admitted: ‘I don’t know what to do — I was crying, really. I’m happy for myself and my family. I’ve had to work hard and stay patient. I need to keep doing that.’
Tuchel added: ‘It was well deserved. He’s been so solid in pre-season. He is humble and calm. He took his chance. It’s not a gift that he plays, it is deserved — he gave a big performance against Villarreal and was robust enough to play another game in the Premier League.
‘It’s super nice and I truly believe you can have the best and most famous players from abroad, but it’s also about young guys from the academy and to show them the way to make it and that is very important for us.’