Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel demands ‘focus’ from his squad in Champions League push after impressive win at Tottenham and hints he will freshen up side for Sheffield United clash
- Chelsea have started life well under new manager Thomas Tuchel
- New Blues boss has taken seven points from nine since replacing Frank Lampard
- Bounce in form has seen Blues re-emerge as contenders for a top four place
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says he ‘cannot care less’ about Chelsea’s current position in the race for the Premier League top four.
The Blues have brought themselves back into the mix for Champions League qualification after taking seven points from Tuchel’s first three games in charge.
A 1-0 win at Tottenham on Thursday saw them move four points off fourth-placed Leicester ahead of Sunday’s trip to Sheffield United.
Thomas Tuchel has enjoyed a good start as Chelsea boss with seven points from nine games
But Tuchel is not concerned about his side’s current position in the table.
‘I cannot care less because I cannot influence other results and I cannot influence what the other teams do,’ he said. ‘I know there are too many teams between us and the Champions League places.
‘It is maybe boring, and I can understand, but I simply know no other approach than to take it step by step. The most important thing is that we don’t lose the focus and we care about the guys who were not on the pitch against Tottenham and get a lot of attention, so we have to take care of them and to take care of our quality and atmosphere in the dressing room that we are able to compete again on Sunday.
‘We have only two days. Maybe we need some changes to be sharp again and to be physical again and that we are able to compete on the highest level in the next game and able to compete against a strong Sheffield and a very physical Sheffield side which won the last games.
Tuchel congratulates his players following their 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday
‘This is all we focus on and the rest we have no influence on. We have enough to do to take care of ourselves.’
Despite their impressive form since his arrival 10 days ago, Tuchel is not taking anything for granted ahead of the trip to Bramall Lane.
‘I look match to match or we lose the focus. Once you bring your head up and look more than one game, you lose your focus,’ he said.
‘I don’t know any other approach, maybe other coaches do – for me it’s not possible and of course not possible if we step up in the middle of the season. We take this step by step.
The Blues are in good form following the win at Spurs as they target a push for the top four
‘Tomorrow is the most important day to analyse the match, to have the group together, to take care about our atmosphere and our spirit and to do a good training with the guys who did not get so much attention today and to take care of them.
‘And then we will prepare the next day and fly to Sheffield and wait for the next big match to arrive.
‘It starts 0-0 and we have to earn our points. If we want to get points we have to earn them and this is the only way I know how to do it. Everybody is happy about that and the results and the points take care of themselves and we have to be focused and to improve and take care of the things that are good.’