Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel admits that German forwards Kai Havertz and Timo Werner were short of their best during Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
Tuchel’s side missed their chance to strengthen their position in the top four at Old Trafford when Marcos Alonso’s second-half opener was cancelled out almost instantly by Cristiano Ronaldo's 23rd goal of the season in all competitions, with United picking up just five points from their last six league games.
For the Blues, while they do hold a healthy six-point lead over Arsenal in fourth and an eight-point advantage over fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, they still have some work to do in their final five league games to ensure that they secure a place in the UEFA Champions League next season, a competition which they won 11 months ago.
During Thursday’s draw with a United side currently being managed by Ralf Rangnick until Erik ten Hag replaces him at the end of the season, Chelsea had 21 shots in the game, 15 more than opponents United. Of those 21 chances, five of them were taken by Havertz, who while setting up Alonso’s opener, failed to score himself.
Former RB Leipzig man Werner also started up front alongside his German international colleague and had just one shot in the game, despite going into the game with four goals and two assists in his previous five appearances across the Premier League and Champions League.
Blues boss Tuchel opted to take both off in a double substitution with 20 minutes to go in the game, as Romelu Lukaku and Christian Pulisic came on in their places, although neither were able to find Chelsea that all-important winning goal. Asked why the German duo were taken off, Tuchel felt that neither were at their best, and if they had been, the Blues would have secured a first win at Old Trafford in nine years.
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“We had a lot of chances,” said Tuchel. “I think the two did not reach their peak performance today and if they did we were now the winners.
“That’s it but no need to point the fingers we had enough chances to score today.” Chelsea’s failure to take chances this season has ultimately been a key reason why they have not challenged Manchester City and Liverpool in the race for the Premier League table.
Compared to Arsenal, six points behind them in fourth, the Blues have lost six fewer league games, but they have also drawn six more, being held in nine of their 33 league games so far this season.
League leaders City currently sit 14 points ahead of the Blues, but Chelsea have scored just 12 fewer league goals and conceded only seven more. Liverpool, one point behind City, have scored 17 more league goals than Chelsea, but have conceded just six less times.
Chelsea’s final five games of the 2021/22 Premier League season come against Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Leicester City and Watford. Due to their favourable goal difference over both Arsenal and Spurs, seven more points should be enough to secure a top-four spot, with nine more than likely to be enough to seal third place.
It is expected to be a busy summer transfer window for the Blues. Centre-back Antonio Rudiger will be leaving on a free transfer and is expected to join Real Madrid. Fellow defender Andreas Christensen is also set to depart to Spain and join Barcelona.
