Thomas Tuchel questions Chelsea players’ commitment after thrashing by Arsenal


“I don’t know if I ever lost a match in pre-season 4-0. I can’t remember not winning two matches in a row in pre-season,” Tuchel said. “I am superstitious but not in a way that I say bad pre-season has to mean a bad season.”

Following a takeover led by Todd Boehly, Chelsea have brought in Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly but Tuchel added the team’s pre-season results had proven him right about the need for more additions to the squad.

“Unfortunately, it proved my point and the last week proves my point,” Tuchel said. “I feel I was right when I look at the last season and at the parts of the game where we struggled and how we struggled.

“We got sanctioned and players left us, we know that some players are trying to leave us, and this is where it is. We had an urgent appeal for quality players and a huge amount of quality players.

“We’ve got two quality players, but we are not competitive like this and unfortunately, we could see it today.”

Arsenal’s new striker Jesus scored his fourth pre-season goal but was withdrawn from the match after picking up an injury.

“He got a knock on his quad in the first half and he wasn’t feeling very comfortable,” manager Mikel Arteta said. “We decided not to take any risks today.”

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