'Huge': Thomas Tuchel makes Arsenal prediction that Chelsea fans will hate

Arsenal and Liverpool will have an advantage going into the next Premier League season according to England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has been reflecting on the impact of the Club World Cup.

The Reds never looked like being caught over the business end of the season last time out in an underwhelming title race with both the Gunners and the Blues falling away from the charge after the festive period. Neither were helped by their involvement in European football, with Liverpool having been knocked out at the beginning of March.

A busy fixture calendar had a knock-on effect for Arsenal and Chelsea. England manager Tuchel has now warned that the Blues - as well as Manchester City - may feel the impact of the extra games at the Club World Cup this summer.

Thomas Tuchel sends Club World Cup warning to Chelsea

Enzo Maresca and Pep Guardiola’s sides will play a minimum of three games at the Club World Cup in the group stage and that could reach up to seven fixtures if either reaches the final. Chelsea in particular are reportedly keen in maximising the financial and business wins from the tournament, pushing transfer business through early in order to compete.

However, Tuchel believes that could come back to bite the London outfit. Speaking ahead of England’s friendly encounter with Senegal, Tuchel said: "I think it [the Club World Cup] will have a huge impact and it will give Liverpool and Arsenal a huge advantage in the next season to not be there.

“I think it will be a very nice experience for the players who are there, to play this tournament for the first time. So it is mixed feelings about it. After a long season, they feel the tiredness. Harry [Kane] said he felt like coming [to England's training camp] after one week would have been much harder.

"It was easier to come after two weeks. It gave him a kind of refreshment, and there were many players who came back after one week, and they said 'Ah, we were just getting into holiday mode, and now we put the boots back on.'"

Chelsea players will be ‘hungry’ to play

While the former Chelsea manager sympathises with the effect on Premier League clubs, he has also assured fans that he will put the international side’s performances above any club interests this week. He continued: "They all want to play. There is not one player who says they want to be on the bench and save themselves for the Club World Cup. They are hungry to play.

"The games are not the problem. It's just the amount of time it occupies with the players, and they need some rest in this calendar, which they hardly get."

Chelsea begin their Club World Cup campaign against Mexican side León on Monday, June 16 at 8 pm. A meeting with Brazilian club Flamengo then follows on Friday, June 20 with a game against Tunisian side ES Tunis the last group game on Wednesday, June 25.

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