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Chelsea line-up to face Newcastle United

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Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel makes four changes from Chelsea's previous premier league fixture, with a goalkeeper and striker retaining their places after impressing in the FA Cup The one eye-catching change to the Chelsea squad is the inclusion of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga who starts in this game ahead to Edouard Mendy after keeping a clean sheet in his first appearance under Thomas Tuchel following Chelsea's 1-0 victory against Barnsley on Thursday. Tammy Abraham the man who scored the decisive goal in Thursday's FA Cup win retains his place for today's game, leading the Chelsea attack with support from both Mason Mount and Timo Werner with Olivier Giroud dropping to the bench. The other changes to Chelsea's starting line-up come in the wing-back position with returns for both Marcos Alonso and Callum Hudson-Odoi to the starting 11 with Reece James and Ben Chilwell making way.  The partnership in central midfield of Jorginho and Matteo Kovacic continues, af...

Tuchel on the importance of building trust

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In an exclusive interview Thomas Tuchel takes time out to explain his management philosophies and includes why honesty and humility play a vital role in the relationship between both the coach and the players. Head-Coach Thomas Tuchel in the dugout during Chelsea's FA Cup game against Barnsley Tuchel has previously spoken about taking a calm and natural approach with both his players during his early stages as Chelsea head coach, keen to criticise or praise based on performances only, without putting too much of the focus o results whilst getting to understand his new team. Despite this Tuchel is still unbeaten in his reign as Chelsea head coach, with four wins and one draw  going into tonight's game at home to Newcastle United. Tuchel still insists however, that he would not have a problem mixing up in order to voice his displeasure through more forceful terms, were he to feel that his teams performances were to merit it, but would like to only use it if it was for a productiv...

Tuchel on his intentions to reward Chilwell

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Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel said that he could understand Ben Chilwell's disappointment in being left out of the Chelsea team currently and has stated the he sees a lot of potential in Chilwell in becoming a big player for Chelsea.  Ben Chilwell and Thomas Tuchel during a Chelsea game Ben Chilwell at Stamford Bridge from Leicester in the summer and shone under Tuchel's predecessor Frank Lampard, having suffered initially with a heel injury.  Ever since Tuchel's arrival at Chelsea, Chilwell has seen his playing time reduced, with the German impressed with Marco's Alonso's display at wing-back. Tuchel however, insists that the door is not necessarily closed for Chilwell though and hopes to reward the left-back with minutes soon. Tuchel stated 'Chilly is a player with enormous talent and I will find opportunities to provide him with minutes on the pitch because this is what he deserves.' 'It was a very difficult decision in selecting Marcos over Chilly...

Youth is the backbone of any club says Tuchel

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Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has great admiration for the young players to make a successful career for themselves at a top team and says the passion for the club itself is vital to making it at Chelsea. Tuchel says that the youth form the backbone of any football club. Since selecting experience over youth in is head game as Chelsea head coach, Thomas Tuchel has picked up where Frank Lampard has left off when it comes to putting his faith in Chelsea's homegrown young players and providing them with an opportunity to excel.  This was very much evident again in the Blues last match, where six academy graduates from Cobham featured in the FA Cup fifth round victory over Barnsley, a fact which was underlined when three of those graduates Tammy Abraham, Billy Gilmour and Reece James combined with each other for Abrahams decisive goal in the game.  In Tuchel's own opinion, the players who are coming through Cobham are the lifeblood of the club and something which he has always ...

Pre-brief & Chelsea team news for Newcastle

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With Newcastle United paying a visit to Stamford Bridge in this round of fixtures in the premier league we look ahead to Chelsea's quest to keep their current good run of results going.  The final action to conclude the weekends premier league games comes on Monday night as Chelsea face Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge. This is the 150th league meeting between the two sides since the first league meeting in 1907. Chelsea have taken all three points from Newcastle's 18 premier league visits, more than Chelsea have done against any other visiting team apart from Tottenham. Chelsea's hard fought in at Sheffield United on Sunday lifted Chelsea to fifth in the premier league, only a point behind fourth placed Liverpool. Thomas Tuchel stated 'We are now the hunters', on Saturday Leicester hosted Liverpool and Manchester City played Tottenham who are currently in eighth in the evening with the chase very much on. The game provides an opportunity for Chelsea to secure a ...

Tuchel on finding the correct balance

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Thomas Tuchel in the dugout during Chelsea's 1-0 victory away to Barnsley in the FA Cup Thomas Tuchel states that the key in helping this Chelsea team will be for him to introduce new ideas without the players being overworked or overloaded throughout a hectic season. In a spell which is typical of the current campaign, Chelsea booked their place in the quarter finals of the FA Cup with a victory over Barnsley on Thursday night and return to action in the premier league at home to Newcastle United, which leaves just three days between matches to recuperate and recover. Though the lack of training time will be frustrating for Tuchel whilst trying to get to know his players midway through the season, the German feels that a higher number of games provides an opportunity to see what they are able to do on the pitch, even if he has to be careful with how much work he will have to do with them at Cobham. Tuchel went onto state 'Every manager in the world aspires to have four weeks w...

Tuchel confirms two out for Newcastle game but states striker will return

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Thomas Tuchel has provided an update on the fitness of four of his players ahead of Chelsea's game against Newcastle United on Monday night. Tuchel confirmed that Andreas Christensen who came of in the FA Cup game against Barnsley, has not suffered any lasting damage. Tuchel confirmed that was not concussion related at all but said that that the centre-back suffered from a headache and so was taken off. Another defender Thiago Silva would not recover in time to face with Tuchel saying he would hope for the Brazilian to return later on in the month.  Tuchel stated 'I'm not too certain about Thiago,' 'W are trying to get him back for Southampton and are trying hard so let's see but I am making no promises.' Meanwhile the two German summer signings Timo Werner and Kai Havertz both have contrasting chances of being involved. 'We have a couple of days and a few training sessions before the game ,' Tuchel added it should be okay for Timo to come back but t...