Tuchel: Everybody including myself needs to step up

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Thomas Tuchel has bemoaned the loss of key players as a reason for Chelsea’s struggle, as the Blues have lost another game, just 5 matches into the new season.

Chelsea were beaten 2-1 by Southampton at the St Mary’s Stadium, despite having scored the first goal of the game.

The Chelsea boss is unhappy with the team’s current situation, and has urged everyone to wake up, including himself.

Tuchel said after the defeat to Southampton: “It reminds me of Juventus last season. We played a fantastic match at Stamford Bridge, and after that we had Chilly off for eight months and Kante for eight weeks.

“It was the same against Tottenham this season. We had a fantastic performance and after that our key player says goodbye for six weeks minimum, and then it’s red cards, and Ruben is off injured, and Reece is off with illness.

“It’s key player after key player. But more importantly, if these key players are missing we need to show a different mentality. It’s not enough at the moment to win at Leeds and Southampton.

“We’re humble enough to know we can lose football matches, even if we hate it, but it’s too easy to push us off the track.

“The line is so thin between excuses and explanations,” added Tuchel.

“I don’t want to go down this road and give any room for excuses to anybody.

“The closing of the transfer window will help. We will know who has full commitment and what role everybody needs to play and to fulfil, and everybody including myself needs to step up our level of performance. It’s an okay performance, not a disaster, but okay is never good enough.”