Tuchel not concerned by defensive jibe at Chelsea

Thomas Tuchel has dismissed Chelsea’s typecasting as a defensive team after the Blues inflicted Juventus’ heaviest Champions League defeat.

Chelsea hammered the Turin giants 4-0 at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night to leapfrog the Italians in Group H. Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Timo Werner all hit the net as Chelsea switched from suffocating Juve to tearing Massimiliano Allegri’s men apart.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino recently described the 2021 Champions League winners Chelsea as a “defensive team, they play in transition and on the counter”.

But Tuchel’s Blues now have 24 goals in their past eight matches. “I don’t listen too much to what people say about us, I feel into my team and into my staff with what we feel comfortable,” he said.

“I felt from day one very brave in our approach to defending. We have instantly a lot of ball possession, always.

“So we try to create chances and to be dangerous. Then came a new season and we’ve tried to recreate it because the group is a bit new.”

Tuchel appeared surprised in recent weeks that observers had not appreciated attacking elements to his approach. In rejecting Pochettino’s withering assessment, Tuchel pointed out the complexity of tactical fluidity. “In some moments things come a bit easier, you catch momentum, and this is clearly the case now.

“But we’re not so worried what people say about us. We want to be strong in all parts of the game.

“It is a very complex game: some moments you have to defend strong and some you find the spaces to attack a bit easier. It stays a team effort and this is the outstanding characteristic of this team. It is a strong group, it is a determined group, it is a hungry group and it’s a pleasure to coach them.”