Tuchel: We are disappointed ‘which is a good sign’

Chelsea kept yet another clean sheet, despite some less than solid defending — Édouard Mendy actually had to work for this one! — and we remain unbeaten under Thomas Tuchel, ten on the bounce in the league and a dozen overall, but the over-riding feeling from today’s 0-0 draw at Elland Road was one of disappointment.

Not only did Chelsea lack the customary control in the match in deciding to play the game on Leeds’ terms rather than our own, but we also failed to take advantage of several big chances to score that were created as a result. As ever, if you can’t score, you’re not going to win too many games, and despite yet another reshuffling in the attacking sector, the struggle for goals continues to be real.

Afterwards, Tuchel did little to hide his disappointment, even as he tried to not be too harsh in his public assessment.

“We had enough chances to score. It was an OK game, sometimes it is hard to score. It is not that you get what you wish for and we have to keep on working hard and be more precise in the opponents’ box. [...] Our timing in the last 20 minutes - we need to be more clinical [but] in general I am happy.

“On a pitch like this against a team like Leeds who put a lot of pressure on you, we created good attacks and generally I am happy with the performance but we want to win. The boys are disappointed which is a good sign.”

-Thomas Tuchel; source: BBC

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa gave Chelsea the edge overall in his own post-match assessment, too — “if there had to be a winner, it would not be us” — but it’s always going to be goals that actually decide games.

Photo by LEE SMITH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

And unfortunately, the two points dropped also keep Chelsea in precarious position in terms of the top-four race. It’s probably safe to assume that other teams will (continue to) drop points as well, but relying on other results is never a truly safe bet.

That said, we have to trust the process and keep the belief on our end.

“We had a couple of chances to go 1-0 ahead but they trouble you and pressure you. You need to make a goal for belief. Sometimes it is like this. I don’t want to be too harsh.

“As long as we have chances and touches in the box and don’t concede too many chances the results will be there. We need to accept this. [The clean sheet] gives us confidence...”

-Thomas Tuchel; source: BT Sport via BBC

Our league campaign takes a brief break now, though the pressure doesn’t get any less, with a Champions League second leg and the FA Cup quarterfinal coming up next week before the two-week international break.

Onwards and upwards!