Tuchel is ‘very happy’ with Wembley victory
THOMAS Tuchel was as delighted with Chelsea reaching the FA Cup final as the manner of his side’s display after ending Manchester City’s quadruple quest at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening.
Just days after both Premier League sides progressed to the Champions League semi-finals, the Londoners came out on top to book a swift return to the national stadium next month.
City looked tired and disjointed having made eight alterations for the semi-final, with Hakim Ziyech’s second-half strike enough to secure Chelsea a deserved 1-0 win against the top-flight leaders.
“If you play against Pep you know that you play against the highest level of Europe, because wherever he was at the sideline – Barcelona, Bayern (Munich) and now Man City – for years he was the benchmark with his teams,” Tuchel said.
“And he is again. You can see that with the Premier League. Our target was to close the gap for the 90 minutes because it’s possible in football and if you have momentum, we can make this happen.
“I am very, very happy and proud with the performance of our team because we played with a lot of courage, we were self-confident and played very brave with the ball and against the ball.
“We deserved the win, which is most important. We were very active, we did not get passive and we deserved the win against, like I said, maybe the best manager and clearly one of the best teams.”
For City, defeat brought an end to their chances of winning all four trophies on offer this term.
Guardiola said: “I try to avoid all the people (talking) about the four, and always I said the same - ‘the next (game), the next one’.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen this season. I’m incredibly delighted with what we have done so far because the amount of games we played.
“We didn’t have a midweek (off ) in an eternity, and all the players (put in) absolutely everything.”
Chelsea will face Leicester City in the final after the Foxes beat Southampton 1-0 last night. Kelechi Iheanacho scored the goal.
Jesse Lingard penalty drawing them level with ten minutes to go.
But on-loan Arsenal man Joe Willock then bagged the winner for the Tynesiders.
On Friday night, Harry Kane twice cancelled out Everton goals as Spurs claimed a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. Gylfi Sigursson scored a brace for the Toffees, including a penalty.
Yesterday, Fulham’s survival hopes took a morale-sapping blow as Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah hit a 97th-minute leveller to cancel out Josh Maja’s penalty opener in a 1-1 draw. They are six points shy of Burnley, who lost 3-1 at Manchester United. The Red Devils scored through Mason Greenwood (2) and Edinson Cavani. James Tarkowski replied. Leeds host Liverpool tonight (8pm).