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https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/
tuchel-excited-by-the-new-azpi-cucurella

Tuchel excited by 'the new Azpi' Cucurella

05 Aug 22


Thomas Tuchel has explained what new signing Marc Cucurella will bring to
the Blues, comparing the defender to his fellow Spaniard Cesar
Azpilicueta.


https://i.imgur.com/YtbEN46.jpg


Cucurella completed a move from Brighton & Hove Albion following an
impressive first year in the Premier League with the Seagulls and will be
well known to Chelsea supporters after his assist for Danny Welbeck's late
equaliser against as at Stamford Bridge last season.


However, there are plenty more of the 24-year-old's attributes which have
Tuchel excited by the potential of the latest addition to his squad, both
in terms of his footballing talent and mentality, while he also sees
similarities between Cucurella and the current Blues captain.


'I'm very excited about what he can bring,' said the German. 'He's a
fantastic player, a fantastic guy.


https://i.imgur.com/BwXAs9y.jpg
Tuchel sees similarities between Cucurella and Azpilicueta


'I don't want to get too excited, but I have the feeling we signed the new
Azpilicueta, in terms of his mentality, attitude, even in terms of his
position, just with a left foot. He can play in the back three, he can
play wing-back and he is a very nice, very humble guy with his
personality.


'He is a fantastic player, a very intelligent player, who is very strong
on the ball, aggressive off the ball, mobile, hungry, with a good
attitude. So I'm very, very happy that he joins us.'


Another positive to Cucurella's arrival at Stamford Bridge is how he
bolsters Tuchel's options, with his versatility making him equally
comfortable in the back three or at wing-back on the left.


https://i.imgur.com/zLpQRNF.jpg
Cucurella in his first training session at Cobham


That also helps reduce the pressure on Ben Chilwell as he continues his
return from the injury which ruled him out for most of last season,
meaning there is no need to rush him back into the action with several
alternatives now available to our head coach.


'Ben looks better and better, but it seems he needs a little bit more time
to adapt to the rhythm and physicality. He is impatient, we will never
expect him to be fully patient. He knows everything needs its time, he
will get the time.


'It helps for Ben to escape the pressure of “I have to deliver”. Marc is
an option in this position and in the back three.'


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https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/
tuchel-top-four-is-the-priority-but-well-aim-higher

Tuchel: Top four is the priority but we'll aim higher

06 Aug 2022


Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has set a target for the season which starts
today.


https://i.imgur.com/8HBEbqF.jpg


The Blues have qualified for the Champions League by finishing in the top
four in the last four consecutive seasons, and in seven of the last nine
campaigns.


While admitting the aim is of course to compete with the likes of
Manchester City and Liverpool for the top-flight title, the boss says he
does not want to put too much pressure on his players before the season
has even begun.


Thomas Tuchel previews Chelsea's first game of the new 2022-23 Premier
League season against Everton at Goodison Park.


'My feeling is always that everybody is first of all in the race for top
four, and then second of all in the title race. I have never heard
different from this from Jurgen [Klopp] or Pep [Guardiola],' Tuchel said.


https://i.imgur.com/Hf7PZD7.jpg
Tuchel introduces our fourth summer signing


'It is super ambitious and super challenging, if you are in March or April
in the title race, you go for the title. You make sure of top four because
this is the priority and the first race to take. We are challenging for
that and there's no shame in it.'


The Bavarian has also considered whether he feels his side are more ready
now than they were at the end of the US pre-season tour.


The start of Chelsea's 2022/23 league campaign will set a new record for
the earliest ever start, becoming just the fifth league game played by the
Blues in the first 10 days of August.


'When I said that Arsenal seemed more ready [after our pre-season
friendly], I speak with my words – they were more ready. They played in
pre-season with more or less the same starting 11. They had one or two
signings to complete their group and they had a clear idea of what they
want. From there, they had a team to build and of course also an
atmosphere and attitude. We suffered against them but there were reasons
we were not at this point, which we have to accept.'


Despite Chelsea's 4-0 loss to Arsenal in Orlando a fortnight ago, Tuchel
is still taking the positives from the defeat to our London neighbours.


'The race is on now. It was kind of a wake-up call but it was tough to
admit and to see. Maybe, it got our heads clear and our expectations right
and to understand where we are and to start from scratch,' Tuchel
suggests.


https://i.imgur.com/x4uoS6t.jpg
Tuchel watches on


'My feeling, and the team's feeling, is that we don't have to be ashamed,
we have to be clear we know there is a lot of work ahead. It's about being
really focussed and serious step by step. We should not have too many
expectations of how things should be from the very start because Raheem
[Sterling] has only played one match for 90 minutes, and Kaildou
[Koulibaly] as well.'

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"Gracchus, something more cheerful."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgUPSBZV_pM

- Rome: Season 1, Episode 3

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