Thomas
Tuchel says Chelsea's game against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on
Sunday could have "huge" implications on the race for the top four.
Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League, two points behind
fourth-placed West Ham - who visit leaders Manchester City on Saturday - and
six behind United, who are second.
While Tuchel is fully aware of the threat posed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's
side - who have not lost away from home in the league since January 2020 and
are the division's top scorers - he knows how much of a boost a win would
provide to Chelsea's bid to play Champions League football next season.
"Hopefully we can win - this is what we go for," Tuchel said. "We know it's
a big challenge because of their unbeaten away record.
"We know what we're up against; a team that can hurt you any second with
individual quality, with speed. They are strong away, they can defend very
compact, they are very, very good in transition. It will be a big challenge
to defend all this.
"The implication is huge, of course. If we get a win out of this game it's
huge for us. If they get a win it will be huge for them, to put a difference
between us."
While Sunday's meeting - live on Sky Sports - will be the first time Tuchel
has faced United as Chelsea boss, he does have recent experience against
Solskjaer's United side.
Tuchel was in charge of Paris Saint-Germain for their infamous 3-1 defeat at
home to United in the Champions League last-16 during the 2018/19 season, a
result which saw the French side throw away a 2-0 lead from the first leg
and helped to earn Solskjaer the permanent manager's job at Old Trafford.
Tuchel also oversaw PSG's 2-1 home defeat to United in the group stages of
this year's competition, as well as their 3-1 win at Old Trafford, and says
those encounters will help to inform his approach on Sunday.
"We played against them in the Champions League - we unfortunately lost both
home matches and could win both away games. Pretty strange results," said
Tuchel.
"We hope that we can turn this around and win at home, but they are still
unbeaten away from home in the Premier League. The challenge is big because
they like to have space, play on counter attacks, to use their speed and
absorb your speed.
"But it helps a lot because we played two consecutive years against them and
they were tough matches. We will use that knowledge and prepare our team."
Tuchel revealed Chelsea will again be without Thiago Silva for the visit of
United as he continues his recovery from the injury he suffered earlier this
month.
However, two other veterans will be on display at Stamford Bridge; former
PSG striker Edinson Cavani is set to be part of the United side, while
Olivier Giroud is in contention for a starting spot after his match-winning
display for Chelsea against Atletico Madrid in midweek.
Tuchel would not confirm whether Giroud would start, but likened him to
Cavani and praised the way both 34-year-old strikers have maintained their
fitness to continue performing at a high level so late in their careers.
"All the time he deserves to start," Tuchel said of Giroud. "He trains very
well, he's a leader in the group, he's a big personality. So even when he
did not start, he deserved to start.
"Their fitness is key and Oli is 100-per-cent fit, zero body fat. The same
with Edi - he is a player like Oli who is ready to suffer for the team. This
is the characteristic of them both and then in the box they are both
excellent finishers.
"They have the experience, they don't get nervous, they have the composure.
Both top-quality strikers and their fitness and self-discipline is key to
their success."
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