‘Blues can rely on emotional leaders’

Thomas Tuchel believes Chelsea’s “emotional” leaders Antonio Rudiger, Cesar Azpilcueta and Mateo Kovacic are fired up for tonight’s Champions League scrap with Porto.

Blues boss Tuchel insists those big characters will be itching for the battle when Chelsea aim to turn their 2-0 quarter-final first-leg lead into safe passage to the last four.

Kai Havertz starred in Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League victory at Crystal Palace, with Tuchel later claiming the Germany forward should embrace his languid style and does not need to set the Blues’ mental tone.

Germany defender Rudiger, club skipper

Azpilicueta and Croatia midfielder Kovacic will handle that role in Seville, with Tuchel calling on his players to stick to their individual and collective strengths.

“Honestly, you don’t want to be in a fight with Toni Rudiger, and Azpilicueta, and Kovacic; they are all emotional guys and you wouldn’t want to be in a fight with them,” said Tuchel.

“Because they are all ready to fight and it’s in their nature to show it on the pitch and to protect the interests of our team which is very, very important.

“They are there and we can rely on them, because it’s in their nature.

“Nobody needs to do anything that’s against their nature. We can totally rely on them.

“I think when I was a player at the lower level it was always important for me, when I had big matches and felt the tension, that I could look around the dressing room and go out of the tunnel, look around at who’s next to me and feel confident and comfortable.

“I’m sure that our guys feel comfortable when they look around.

“The best thing about this game is nobody needs to do it alone, nobody.

“We are out there together, everybody on the pitch will help each other, and we will help from the bench and from the stands, and the guys who come off the bench.”

Chelsea face a season-defining week given Saturday’s FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City follows quickly on from tonight’s Porto clash.

Tuchel has told his players to let everyone else “wreck their heads” about the week’s greater significance, while Chelsea must focus solely on seeing off a stubborn Porto outfit.

Tuchel also admitted he has yet to decide whether midfield linchpin N’Golo Kante will be fit enough to start both matches this week, after his recent hamstring injury.

He said: “Normally it’s hard to imagine a game like this without Kante but, at the same time, we have to be absolutely careful with him that we don’t take risks with his health.”