Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has refused to heap heavy criticism upon his players following their 4-0 defeat to Arsenal in pre-season.
The Blues underperformed as Arsenal put two goals past his team either side of half-time in Orlando, seeing Chelsea register their largest defeat of pre-season.
Goals from Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Sambi Lokonga saw Tuchel's side embarrassed infront of their American fans, with the Blues making next to no chances as they were well beaten.
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Lining up in a back four for the first-half, before switching to a three at half-time, Chelsea were thrashed by their London rivals and will return to Cobham after their pre-season tour off the back of a humiliating defeat.
Speaking to football.london after the match, Tuchel admitted that he was disappointed in his side but refuses to 'destroy' the group after the defeat.
"I saw a team in Arsenal who are mentally committed to a level of exhaustion that we could not match physically and mentally because we have a lot of players who are thinking about leaving and looking at their options," he said.
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"I don’t remember losing 4-0 in pre-season or two in a row.
"I’m a huge fan of a strong preseason, but not in a way that a good pre-season has to mean a good season.
"We fly home now and on Tuesday we need to present solutions to stand up again and find a way through this because it hurts at the moment."
When asked about what he wants to see from his team, Tuchel encouraged them to show more aggression as he analysed the match but reiterated that it is not worth talking about this as he does not wish to 'destroy' his group of players.
"We need to be more lively and aggressive," he continued.
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"The level of commitment was simply not enough.
"It’s not a moment to destroy my group because they are very nice and hard working but for today this is the honest analysis of the game. It’s not worth talking around this."
Chelsea will face Udinese in Italy as their final pre-season match at the end of the month before the 2022/23 Premier League season starts.
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Tuchel will be hoping to have some new faces joining his squad before then as he looks to compete on the highest level next season.
Following the defeat, the Blues will have to pick themselves up and go again, with no other choice with less than two weeks until the new campaign.
Chelsea begin the new season as they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton on the first weekend in August.
Topics: Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel, Arsenal, Football
Nick Emms