After the second defeat of the season, Thomas Tuchel sounded the alarm, at least subliminally. “I don’t know if worried is the right word. I hate losing, it’s the second time this season and I don’t think it takes much to beat us and I don’t like that,” said the coach Chelsea FC after the 1: 2 (1: 2) on Tuesday evening at FC Southampton.
England international Raheem Sterling gave Chelsea the lead in the 23rd minute. But the hosts countered with Romeo Lavia (28′) and Adam Armstrong (45’+1′). That leaves a mixed start to the season for Chelsea, who sit eighth in the Premier League table just behind Southampton.
Southampton celebrate the opening goal by Adam Armstrong (3rd from left)
(Photo: IMAGO/Paul Terry/IMAGO/Sportimage)
“It’s too easy to throw us off balance. That already happened against Leeds. We have to understand the reasons for this and find solutions,” said Tuchel. Many key players would be absent injured, according to the former Mainz and Dortmund coach. “And you can always lose games and I’m humble enough to admit that. But in a game where you’re ahead you can’t miss half-chances. It was disappointing that we didn’t have any answers in the second half,” said Tuchel.
The lack of goal efficiency is not entirely new for his team. “Nevertheless, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you lose games, you can also win 1-0,” said Tuchel after his first appearance on the bench after his suspension. Tuchel missed the narrow 2-1 win against Leicester City last Saturday because the appeal against his ban was rejected. The English Football Association had suspended Tuchel on August 14 because of his heated argument with his fellow coach Antonio Conte after the London duel with Tottenham Hotspur. both had seen the red card for it.
Tuchel has been fined £35,000 for his conduct outside of the suspension. Italy’s Conte has to pay £15,000 but wasn’t handed a suspension. Meanwhile, Southampton’s Ralph Hasenhüttl won the duel between the two former Bundesliga coaches. It was the second win of the season for his team.