A GAP YEAR FOR TUCHEL
THOMASTUCHEL admits Chelsea are way too far behind the big two at the top of the Premier League. Yet the Blues boss insists there is no disgrace in their failure to close the gap to the summit when it’s Manchester City and Liverpool sitting up there.
Blues boss Tuchel may have blown his lid over poor displays more times this month than in the previous 12 put together but he remains adamant his players have let nobody down over the whole campaign.
Sure, having won the Champions League last May, Chelsea have not come close to matching pre-season expectations that they would be authentic title challengers in a three-horse scrap for domestic glory.
However, asked if Chelsea should be closer to Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp’s unstoppable outfits, the German said: “There is room for improvement.
“The gap is big but we are competing with maybe the two most successful teams that ever played in this league.
“Given our last two home games (league defeats to Arsenal and Brentford), the gap is bigger than it should be.
“Before that, it was bigger than it should be but that was due to circumstances, not effort, quality or whatever.
“It could have been smaller but the effort and ambition is there. It’s no problem to be ambitious but maybe not reach it.
“It would not suit us if we played it down and told everyone before the season that we would open a box of champagne if we were fourth, but we don’t feel ashamed.
“We should not feel disappointed because there is no shame in it. In general, it’s very tough to end up in the top four.”
Even that is no longer nailed on following those back-to-back defeats at Stamford Bridge.
Another today, when West Ham are the visitors, would leave third-placed Chelsea looking over their shoulder at London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham.
VLAD STILL FEELS TEEN SNUB PAIN
VLADIMIR COUFAL has taken the long, hard route to the very top of football.
West Ham’s Czech rightback was rejected as a teenager by local club Banik Ostrava and plied his trade in the country’s lower leagues, earning no more than a pint and a bite to eat for his troubles.
Little wonder Coufal (below), 29, will never forget those days.
He revealed: “It’s still inside of me, the feeling.
They didn’t give me a proper chance just because I wasn’t tall enough, strong enough but I was only a 15-year-old. Banik destroyed my dream to be a professional footballer.”
Coufal’s story has parallels with that of fellow Hammers star Declan Rice, dumped by Chelsea as a youngster before heading to east London.
Ex-slavia Prague defender Coufal added: “He was at a really strong Chelsea, I was strong at Banik – there’s a big difference. It can happen to everyone but my way was difficult. So now, when I’m here, it feels nice.”