The Sunday Post (Dundee)

Tuchel frustrated by draw at Elland Road

- By Mark Walker SPORT@SUNDAYPOST.COM

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel felt his side created enough chances to have taken all three points in the draw at Leeds.

Both sides hit the crossbar in the first half and both goalkeeper­s were forced into several decisive saves in an unrelentin­g game which ebbed and flowed.

The Blues extended their unbeaten Premier League run to 10 matches – 12 in all competitio­ns – since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in January.

But the German said: “I think we could have won exactly the same game. We created enough chances, enough shots, enough touches to score one or two goals.

“Unfortunat­ely and obviously, we did not, so we have to live with a draw, but yes, at the same time it was a difficult pitch, very difficult conditions, very slippery, very bouncy.

“But we accept all the difficulti­es in an away game against a team that puts a lot of pressure on you.”

The closest Chelsea came to scoring was when Leeds defender Luke Ayling’s first-half clearance rebounded off teammate Diego Llorente and struck the bar.

Leeds hit the woodwork soon after through Tyler Roberts’ deft chip, which Edouard Mendy brilliantl­y turned on to the bar.

But Tuchel believed his side had held the ascendancy, adding: “We found many situations where we could escape the pressure, where we had high recoveries of the ball. But we were not clinical enough on the counter-attacks, our precision or the last touch.”

With both sides intent on a razorsharp press, it made for a helter-skelter opening 20 minutes.

Leeds had an early Roberts effort chalked off for offside, before both goalkeeper­s had their respective crossbars rattled.

Leeds were dealt a blow 10 minutes before half-time when Patrick Bamford limped out of the action and was replaced by Rodrigo.

Clear-cut chances were limited and the first period ended goalless, but the pace of the game remained unrelentin­g. Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier saved well from Christian Pulisic soon after the restart as Chelsea probed and applied the pressure.

Ayling did enough to deny Kai Havertz a clean header and N’golo Kante made a mess of his effort inside the area.

But Leeds held firm and after swarming forward themselves went close to taking the lead when Mendy flung out a hand to keep out Raphinha’s shot.

Ben Chilwell failed to keep his shot on target after charging into the area and

 ??  ?? Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell is shadowed by Leeds United’s Jack Harrison
Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell is shadowed by Leeds United’s Jack Harrison

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