What Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel said about Sheffield United after Blues win at Bramall Lane

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel recognised that his team made to battle for all three points after coming away from Bramall Lane with a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United.
By Chris Holt
Published 7th Feb 2021, 22:25 BST
Chelsea's head coach Thomas Tuchel, centre, celebrates with Chelsea's N'Golo Kante and Chelsea's Mason Mount after the Premier League soccer match between Sheffield United and Chelsea at Bramall Lane. (Clive Mason/ Pool via AP)Chelsea's head coach Thomas Tuchel, centre, celebrates with Chelsea's N'Golo Kante and Chelsea's Mason Mount after the Premier League soccer match between Sheffield United and Chelsea at Bramall Lane. (Clive Mason/ Pool via AP)
Chelsea's head coach Thomas Tuchel, centre, celebrates with Chelsea's N'Golo Kante and Chelsea's Mason Mount after the Premier League soccer match between Sheffield United and Chelsea at Bramall Lane. (Clive Mason/ Pool via AP)

It took an debatable penalty decision to swing the match back in Chelsea’s favour after the Blades had levelled things up shortly after the break, with Antonio Rudiger’s own goal cancelling out Mason Mount’s opener for the visitors just before half time.

Timo Werner was awarded the spot kick shortly after United’s equaliser as he latched onto a poor back pass from Kean Bryan and was felled in the box by Aaron Ramsdale.

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Referee Kevin Friend intially waved away appeals for a penalty but VAR intervened and after watching the inident again on the pitchside monitor, a spot kick was given and Jorginho tucked it away.

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United themselves, thought they had won a penalty early in the match when Chris Basham had his legs taken from underneath him when he was about to shoot, however VAR again interjected and ruled that the Blades defender had been in an offside position when he picked up the cross.

Chris Wilder’s side had certainly given Chelsea a game and once again they come away with a defeat by a single goal and Tuchel admitted he knew what was coming when he took his side to South Yorkshire for the Sunday night fixture in a cold and windy S2.

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"When you arrive in Sheffield you know what's waiting for you - it feels like a cup game against a team full of energy and very direct and physical,” Tuchel said afterwards.

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"You have to accept not all moments in the game are going to be easy and we accept this - and it was good.

"We had some difficult moments to overcome and in general it was a deserved win."

Tuchel later added: “What will it help you if you see that Sheffield are very, very low, but if you analyse the team you see their results against Man United.

They are bottom of the league, but you have to come here, accept the challenge, play humble.”

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Related topics:ChelseaVARChris BashamBramall LaneChris WilderBlues