90min

Thomas Tuchel insists top four race isn't over for Chelsea

By Jamie Spencer

Chelsea are third after beating Leicester but the top four face could still go to the wire
Chelsea are third after beating Leicester but the top four face could still go to the wire / Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
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Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has insisted the race for the top four is still not over, despite his team moving back into third place with a crucial victory over Leicester at Stamford Bridge, a game which also served as partial revenge for Saturday’s FA Cup final.

The Blues' 2-1 win, secured by second half goals from Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho, saw them leapfrog the Foxes and go four points clear of fifth place Liverpool in the process.

Chelsea could still be caught by Leicester & Liverpool if they fail to win against Aston Villa on the final day of the season
Chelsea could still be caught by Leicester & Liverpool if they fail to win against Aston Villa on the final day of the season / Peter Cziborra - Pool/Getty Images

However, Tuchel’s team can still slip back out of the top four on the final day of the season if they fail to beat Aston Villa and Leicester and Liverpool both win their remaining games – the latter have a game in hand to be played on Wednesday night.

Chelsea also still have the Champions League final against Manchester City in Porto to look forward to at the end of the month as well.

“It was an outstanding performance but the job is not done. We have two more to go,” Tuchel told Sky Sports after the final whistle at Stamford Bridge.

“The fans made a huge difference. You see the speed in our game, the hunger, the ambition. It was a very strong performance and I'm absolutely delighted the team can present itself like this in front of our fans. We needed exactly that. It was a big win but it is not time for celebration yet.

“It was an okay performance in the [FA Cup final], but today [Tuesday] was a top performance.”

But despite the performance and the result, Tuchel was once again left ruing VAR after Timo Werner appeared to be fouled in the penalty area but was penalised himself, yet there was no review.

Timo Werner
Tuchel felt Timo Werner should have had a penalty / Glyn Kirk - Pool/Getty Images

"It's a clear penalty,” Tuchel said. “[VAR] are horrible against us and it's the third time in a row. We have a goal against Arsenal denied with handball, we have a goal against Leicester in the cup with a hand and today, it is a penalty but the foul goes against us.”

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