Thomas Tuchel's Chelsea face a huge week as they bid to finish the season in style
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea face a huge week as they bid to finish the season in style (Picture: Getty)

Thomas Tuchel insists ‘you don’t want to fight’ Chelsea stars Antonio Rudiger, Mateo Kovacic and Cesar Azpilicueta as the Blues prepare for a crucial week in their season.

Chelsea face Sevilla in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash on Tuesday night, having won the first leg 2-0.

Four days after their tie with Porto, Tuchel’s side meet runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Ahead of the key period in Chelsea’s season, former Borussia Dortmund and PSG boss Tuchel discussed some of the players he will rely on to protect their team-mates and praised the squad’s spirit.

‘Honestly you don’t want to be in a fight with Antonio Rudiger, Kova (Mateo Kovacic) and Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta),’ Tuchel said.

‘For me you don’t want to be in a fight with them, because they are ready to fight and it’s their nature to show it on the pitch and protect the interests of our team. 

‘They are there we can rely on them nobody has to do stuff which is against their nature you can totally rely on them. 

Chelsea beat Porto 2-0 in the first leg
Chelsea beat Porto 2-0 in the first leg (Picture: Getty)

‘For me when I was a player at a lower level when you have big matches and feel the tension you look around at who is next to you and feel comfortable, see who you can rely on. 

‘I feel our guys are very comfortable when they look around and see who they can rely on. No one is out there alone, we will help each other, we will help from the bench. 

‘We will push hard for the best outcome. We have minimum of 90 minutes to fight for and achieve a big goal.’ 

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The Blues boss also said ‘now is the time’ for Chelsea to win trophies, having replaced Frank Lampard in the Stamford Bridge hot-seat in January.

As well as competing for the Champions League and FA Cup, Chelsea will hope to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League over the next month.

‘I am here to win games and as a result to win titles,’ he added.

‘This is what I demand of myself. Why should we now say any different – that we want to win in five years, three years or two years? Now is the time.’

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