Thomas Tuchel Believes Chelsea Can Reach Standard Set by Manchester City

Thomas Tuchel: ‘Will we close the gap to City this season? No. But next season on we start with zero points.’ Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty Images
Thomas Tuchel: ‘Will we close the gap to City this season? No. But next season on we start with zero points.’ Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty Images
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Thomas Tuchel Believes Chelsea Can Reach Standard Set by Manchester City

Thomas Tuchel: ‘Will we close the gap to City this season? No. But next season on we start with zero points.’ Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty Images
Thomas Tuchel: ‘Will we close the gap to City this season? No. But next season on we start with zero points.’ Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty Images

Thomas Tuchel believes Chelsea are capable of reaching the standards set by Liverpool and Manchester City in the past four years but the manager knows there is no guarantee he will have as much time to prove himself as Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola were given.

Chelsea have lagged behind the leaders since winning the Premier League in 2017 and Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard on an 18-month deal in January, accepts that challenging for the title next season will be hard. Although his side are a point above sixth-placed Liverpool before they meet at Anfield on Thursday, they finished 33 points below Klopp’s champions last season and are 21 points below Guardiola’s City at the top of the league.

The numbers do not favor Chelsea, who were 26 points behind City in 2019 and 30 in 2018. Tuchel’s target this season is finishing in the top four but he is confident of realizing his ambition of catching Klopp and Guardiola in the future.

“If you read these numbers out loud then it seems not,” he said. “But we should not limit our thoughts. We should try and not prepare for excuses. The amount of points shows how big the gap is. But it has to be the ambition to close it as fast as possible.

“It’s a thin line between the argument and giving already an excuse to myself and the players. I don’t want to do that. It’s not my nature and you can only push yourself to the limit if you don’t accept it from the beginning.

“Will we close the gap to City this season? No. But next season on we start with zero points. City were in trouble this season and nobody took advantage. It’s proven in sports that you can do an extraordinary step, improve staff and grow if you catch the momentum. Now we are challenging for top four, which was a big task when we stepped in, and from next year we will challenge for all titles.”

Tuchel smiled at a mention of Chelsea’s history of sacking managers. It took Klopp five years to lead Liverpool to the title and Guardiola’s first season at City was a disappointment.

“I have to earn it that I can have the same time as Jürgen and Pep,” Tuchel said. “This was no gift to them. I think everybody in the club saw what they are doing and this is what I have to prove. I have to live every day to make my impact here and to show that I deserve the same amount of time to build teams. But I don’t have the feeling that it’s an obstacle that holds me back from building.”

Tammy Abraham is a doubt to face Liverpool with an ankle injury and Thiago Silva is not ready to return from a thigh injury. But Callum Hudson-Odoi is available after going off at half-time during Chelsea’s draw with Manchester United last Sunday.

(The Guardian)



Arsenal Manager Arteta Pleased with Early Transfer Business

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta attends a press conference ahead of their football match against AC Milan at the National Stadium in Singapore on July 21, 2025. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta attends a press conference ahead of their football match against AC Milan at the National Stadium in Singapore on July 21, 2025. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)
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Arsenal Manager Arteta Pleased with Early Transfer Business

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta attends a press conference ahead of their football match against AC Milan at the National Stadium in Singapore on July 21, 2025. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta attends a press conference ahead of their football match against AC Milan at the National Stadium in Singapore on July 21, 2025. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)

Mikel Arteta said he was happy that Arsenal had signed a number of top-quality players in the early stages of the transfer window, and that they had given the Premier League club impetus to raise their level in the coming season.

Runners-up for the last three seasons, Arsenal have signed winger Noni Madueke and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea, as well as midfielders Christian Norgaard from Brentford and Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

"They bring new excitement, a new energy as well," Arteta told reporters in Singapore on Monday ahead of a pre-season match against Serie A side AC Milan.

"We signed very important players as well. Again, everybody feels like their height has to go to a different level, and that's what we're seeking," he added, according to Reuters.

"Ideally, you want it (transfers) done on day one in pre-season. We've done very, very well so far. I'm very pleased with the way the club is supporting the necessities and improvements that we required in the team."

Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, who scored 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting last season, is also expected to move to the Emirates Stadium.

"There's still a long time in the window, and we are seeking. In terms of numbers, we are short, and we have to improve the depth and the quality of the squad," Arteta added.

"We are constantly looking in the market, but until that happens, I can focus on the players that we actually have, work with them, and I'm very pleased with what I've seen so far in the first 10-15 days."

Arteta briefly spoke about former player Thomas Partey, who was charged with rape and sexual assault this month, after leaving the club at the end of last season.

"I think the club was very clear in its statement. There are a lot of legal matters that are very complicated so I cannot comment on any of that," Arteta said.

Asked if he felt like the club had followed the right processes in dealing with the issue, he replied: "100%, yes."