RUDIGER AND KEPA BRAWL IN TRAINING
ONE defeat and a training ground fight is all it takes for the momentum to vanish and Chelsea suffered both over the weekend. Hot on the heels of the capitulation against West Bromwich Albion, Thomas Tuchel ordered Antonio Rudiger to stop training early yesterday after he had a fight with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
There was pushing and arguing between the pair, neither of whom played in the defeat by West Brom, when tempers flared in training and Tuchel sent his defender into the changing rooms shortly before the end of the session to calm down. The row kicked off during a small-sided game when Rudiger went in late on Kepa, who reacted badly but was allowed to see out the session. Rudiger apologised to Kepa later on and Tuchel is satisfied that the incident is dealt with.
Cesar Azpilicueta and Reece James are also said to have been involved in a heated discussion in the dressing room immediately after the game.
Tuchel admitted post-match that things got heated but that clearly carried over into yesterday’s session.
‘After 14 matches unbeaten, we cannot lose our head,’ Tuchel said. ‘After the game, it was the moment to be honest but to be calm and to breathe. So there were some quick words to calm everybody down and to delay the talks because it was too emotional, too much frustration.’
Tuchel also admitted Chelsea had lost the initiative in the race for the top four, although Spurs helped by failing to beat Newcastle yesterday. But the Blues can fall to fifth tonight if West Ham win at Wolves. With two up front, West Brom hustled Jorginho and the defenders into mistakes. Thiago Silva was sent off after collecting two yellows and both fouls were in reaction to possession lost in defensive areas. The second goal scored by Matheus Pereira, to put the visitors 2-1 up came when James and Jorginho were caught playing out in defence.
Christian Pulisic sustained a hamstring injury ahead of the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Porto on Wednesday, and the day ended with statements from both clubs condemning racist abuse on social media aimed at Republic of Ireland star Callum Robinson, who scored two goals. CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Mendy 5.5; Azpilicueta 5, Silva 4.5, Zouma 5; James 5, Jorginho 4.5 (Havertz 72min, 5), Kovacic 6, Alonso 6; Ziyech 5 (Christensen 33, 5), Werner 5, Pulisic 5.5 (Mount 46, 6). Subs not used: Arrizabalaga, Rudiger, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Chilwell, Gilmour. Scorers: Pulisic 27, Mount 71. Booked: Silva, Kovacic. Sent off: Silva. Manager: Thomas Tuchel 5. WEST BROM (5-3-2): Johnstone 6; Furlong 6.5, O’Shea 6 (Ivanovic 24, 5; Robinson 37, 8), Bartley 7, Ajayi 7.5, Townsend 6.5; Phillips 7.5 (Livermore 89), Yokuslu 7, Maitland-Niles 7; PEREIRA 8.5, Diagne 8. Subs not used: Button, Diangana, Robson-Kanu, Peltier, Snodgrass, Grant. Scorers: Pereira 45+2, 45+4, Robinson 63, 90+1, Diagne 68. Booked: Diagne. Manager: Sam Allardyce 7.5. Referee: David Coote 6.5.
Horror show: Thomas Tuchel CRACKS START TO SHOW TUCHEL’S FIRST FIVE HOME PL GAMES: 0 goals conceded, 9 shots on target faced SATURDAY: 5 goals conceded, 7 shots on target faced 5 THIS was the first time a Thomas Tuchel side has let in five goals at home.