Tam’s Blues kids have a real Tuch of good luck
BRENTFORD...0 CHELSEA .......
THOMAS TUCHEL threw in the kids but it was Brentford who committed the schoolboy errors that handed Chelsea a place in the semi-finals.
The Blues boss made plain his feelings this week, with a squad riddled with injury and illness.
The German wanted their game at Wolves last weekend called off. He was denied then – and last night made his point
But in the end, against the odds, the kids did OK.
And the Bees, thanks to Pontus Jansson’s late owngoal and Jorginho’s penalty after Christian Pulisic was fouled, were the architects of their own downfall.
Tuchel also reserved special praise for the much-maligned Kepa, with the Spaniard putting in an assured performance.
The Blues gaffer said: “He’s in that state of mind as a person, a character and a sportsman where he just delivers.
“This is what he shows every day in training and that’s why he gets the rewards and has these kind of performances.”
Brentford almost went ahead when Yoane Wissa found himself in front of goal – but his weak header was straight at Kepa.
The shotstopper saved Chelsea again, keeping out Mathias Jensen’s header before racing out to block Rico Henry’s shot when the Bees full-back was clean through soon after.
At half time, Jorginho and Christian Pulisic were thrown on but chances were still at a premium so it was fitting the opener came from an error.
James crossed low and Jansson slammed the ball into the top corner of his own net. Jorginho wrapped it up soon after.
Chelsea will face Spurs next and Tuchel said: “A derby is nice for our fans.”