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Finishing line in sight as crucial two weeks for Tuchel kick off with win

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Edouard Mendy

Edouard Mendy

Edouard Mendy

Gerry Cox

Alex Ferguson, who loves his horses, used the analogy of training thoroughbreds when he talked about preparing his great Manchester United teams to peak in May, with the finishing line in sight and prizes to be won or lost.

Thomas Tuchel is not such an enthusiastic racegoer, but he abides by the same principles, and there is a feeling that it is all coming together for Chelsea at the perfect time.

The next two weeks should define how much Tuchel’s tenure has, so far, transformed Chelsea’s season. His side have home advantage going into Wednesday’s second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, having scored a precious away goal in a 1-1 draw last week. Points from next week’s league games against Manchester City and Arsenal can cement Chelsea’s place in the top four, where they are closing in on third-placed Leicester City, whom they meet in the FA Cup final on Saturday week.

Two goals from Kai Havertz killed off Fulham on Saturday, nudging Scott Parker’s side closer to relegation, and Tuchel can start preparations to face Zinedine Zidane’s side. “We are absolutely in the place and situation where we want to be, arriving at a big game on Wednesday,” the head coach said. “It was important to get this game off our shoulders.

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“We had some good performances from players who did not play in the last game and now everybody will be focused on good training sessions on Monday and Tuesday to prepare for Real Madrid.

Antonio Rudiger sustained a facial injury in Madrid and will wear a mask for the return.

Mateo Kovacic is still injured, but fellow midfielder Mason Mount should be fit to face Real despite being substituted following a fall that hurt his back. Mount had set up Havertz for the first goal with a sublime touch and pass in the 10th minute, and the German then combined well with compatriot Timo Werner to complete his double. Getting the best out of last summer’s expensive signings, including the latter two and Hakim Ziyech, was one of the reasons Tuchel was brought in to replace Frank Lampard in January.

The German coach has overseen 17 clean sheets in 23 games. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was excellent again, with three good saves to keep out a Fulham side fighting for their lives.

“It is not easy to switch between the two Champions League games with a Premier League match in the middle, but we did it,” Mendy said.

“The manager knows how it was difficult to focus on Fulham, but we stayed strong together and were clinical on the counter-attack.”


Tuchel can choose between keeping Havertz as a false nine or playing a traditional centre-forward such as Olivier Giroud or Tammy Abraham against Real, who are likely to have Sergio Ramos back from injury. The coach suggested a third option: “Maybe play no striker at all and Ramos will have nothing to fight against!” he joked. “I have not made my mind up yet. It’s another challenge. Let’s wait and see who is in good shape, good form and what shape we will play and how we will try to hurt them. There are many questions, but we don’t need the answers now. It is enough if we have them on Wednesday.” 

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