Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel issues rallying cry to players to keep top four hopes in their own hands

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel tells his players to keep top four hopes in their own hands ahead of visit from Leicester after Alisson’s wonder goal at West Brom ‘makes things interesting’ with Liverpool

  • Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson scored an incredibly dramatic 95th-minute winner 
  • The result kept the Reds one point behind Tuchel’s side with two matches left 
  • He urged his players to ‘rely on themselves’ to secure a Champions League spot 

Thomas Tuchel has urged his Chelsea players to keep their top four hopes in their own hands

Thomas Tuchel has told his Chelsea players to ‘rely on themselves’ to secure a top-four spot and confirm Champions League football next season after Alisson’s dramatic late winner saw Liverpool keep up the pressure on his side.

The Reds goalkeeper raced up for a corner and nodded in superbly to give Jurgen Klopp’s side an incredible 2-1 win against already-relegated West Bromwich Albion, which kept alive their previously ailing hopes of European football next season. 

And before Chelsea’s Premier League match against Leicester on Tuesday – in a rematch of the FA Cup final which Leicester won 1-0 – Tuchel urged his players to keep Champions League qualification in their own hands.

His comments come after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson scored a dramatic late winning goal

His comments come after Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson scored a dramatic late winning goal

Alisson headed in to grab a 2-1 win against West Brom and keep pressure on Tuchel's Chelsea

Alisson headed in to grab a 2-1 win against West Brom and keep pressure on Tuchel’s Chelsea

He said: ‘It was a fantastic header in the last minute that makes things interesting and tight. It’s still in our hands.

‘The setback for us was the Arsenal game. We let the door open so Liverpool have a foot in the door. They’re a strong team and it’s what they do. 

‘We make a huge effort to overtake them and this is what we did. We should be aware of the huge performance we’ve made so far but we need to finish the job.

The Blues face Leicester next in an FA Cup Final rematch, which the Foxes won 1-0 on Saturday

The Blues face Leicester next in an FA Cup Final rematch, which the Foxes won 1-0 on Saturday

‘We need to rely on ourselves because we are in the situation where we don’t have to look at other grounds.’

The Blues host Brendan Rodgers’ side at Stamford Bridge knowing victory would see them leapfrog the Foxes into third, before travelling to Aston Villa on the final day.

Meanwhile, Klopp’s Liverpool face Burnley, before entertaining Crystal Palace on Sunday May 29.

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