While the air at Stamford Bridge had the feel of a game that counted for little, with just 180 minutes of football remaining for the Blues this season, Thomas Tuchel is not a coach to not expect the very best from his players. The Blues boss noted that Newcastle's win over Arsenal had taken the pressure off at Cobham, but Chelsea still required points to secure third position in the table.
The German coach said: "Everyone is a bit more relaxed, feels less tension, a bit less pressure than normal. I think that's normal. We come from a long spell of a lot of matches in different competitions, so we don't feel the same pressure and tension as normal, but that should not keep us from performing.
"Finishing third would reflect what we've built and what we deserve, so it's on us to take it. Nobody will give it to us, we have to take it. Even if you maybe feel a bit more relaxed before a game, it does not mean that you cannot be switched on and totally focused when the whistle goes. That's the challenge for today."
