Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel warns stars are ‘playing with fire’ after draw against Everton

Thomas Tuchel said the team were missing important players, but this couldn’t be used as an excuse after dropping points at home.
Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea gestures during the Premier League match (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea gestures during the Premier League match (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea gestures during the Premier League match (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel warned his players they are “playing with fire” after spuring chance against Everton, who eventually earned a point at Stamford Bridge.

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Mason Mount put the European Champions ahead and there were chances to finish off Everton, who had their own injury concerns coming into the game.

Wasteful finishing from Chelsea, who were missing record signing Romelu Lukaku said to be isolating due to Covid-19, meant Everton’s 19-year-old defender Jarrad Branthwaite’s strike was enough to deny Chelsea all three points on the day.

Jarrad Braithwaite of Everton scores their side's first goal during the Premier League match  (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Jarrad Braithwaite of Everton scores their side's first goal during the Premier League match  (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Jarrad Braithwaite of Everton scores their side's first goal during the Premier League match (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The Blues, who were previously solid at the back, have now gone six games without keeping a clean sheet, with Tuchel firing a warning to his under-performing stars.

“We missed big chances in the first half to get the result straight and in the second half, we didn’t find the rhythm consistently and we tried to bring on energy from the bench and got the lead,” the Blues boss told the press after the game.

But then we gave away the lead from a free-kick.

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Football is never like a one-reason game where you can have one reason why things go this way.

“But one thing is for sure the chances we missed today, we could’ve been 2-0, 3-0 up but we were playing with fire.

“It’s obvious we missed a lot of players, big personalities, regular starters but we will not use it as an excuse.”

Former Chelsea manager Rafael Benítez came into the game with his back against the wall, after a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace, but his young team stepped up to make the case for more game time.

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Benitez said: “We had so many issues with injury and illness, the way we reacted to the goal showed big character.

“It’s a big point, but also the way we won the point. You saw the celebrations with the fans.

Rafael Benitez, Manager of Everton celebrates with Mason Holgate of Everton  (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Rafael Benitez, Manager of Everton celebrates with Mason Holgate of Everton  (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Rafael Benitez, Manager of Everton celebrates with Mason Holgate of Everton (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The Chelsea boss said: “I don’t want to get involved with politics and if we have to play we will play.”

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