Monday, April 5th, 2021
After Zoff with keeper Kepa
Tuchel throws Rüdiger out during training
Needed by David
After the 2: 5 debacle at the weekend, Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel asks for “quiet”. The next day, however, national player Antonio Rüdiger struggled with goalkeeper Kepa and was briefly thrown out after the violence. The drama comes at an inopportune time, the most important game of the year is on.
The first defeat under coach Thomas Tuchel after 14 unbeaten games since his start has left its mark on Chelsea. After the Blues had to take a 2: 5 swat against West Bromwich Albion from the table cellar of the English Premier League on Saturday, there was probably a small scandal during training on Easter Sunday. As the English media unanimously report, national player Antonio Rüdiger – who was not used in the embarrassment on Saturday – was one of the main people responsible for a proper training drama.
Tuchel had to send Rüdiger to the dressing room early from training after the defender was involved in a heated argument with goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga less than 24 hours after the home debacle. The coach had previously called for “calm” and patience after watching his team stumble in the race to qualify for the Champions League. Then Tuchel had to intervene bravely, because Rüdiger and Kepa were feeling emotions and the two professionals were pushing each other. The team manager threw the German international out of hand and ordered him to go to the locker room five minutes before everyone else.
The trouble was probably triggered by a late tackle by Rüdiger against the goalkeeper in a training game, who reacted very angrily. Then the disagreement escalated into a physical confrontation. In contrast to the German, Kepa was allowed to finish the training round. Afterwards, Rüdiger is said to have apologized to Kepa, who also did not play on Saturday. Tuchel, who is hoping for a positive reaction after the debacle when Chelsea contests the first leg of its Champions League quarter-finals against Porto on Wednesday, is of the opinion that the matter is now settled.
But Rüdiger and Kepa weren’t the only blues professionals who clashed after the loss to West Brom. Captain César Azpilicueta is said to have had an argument with Reece James in the dressing room after the game because James was partly to blame for the second goal of the day. The most important game of the year on Wednesday has so far not been under a good star, it is seething with the Londoners.
“Individually, our defense was not at the level to which we have become accustomed from the boys,” said Tuchel on Easter Monday with a view to the quarter-finals of the premier class, “and we have to improve in this sense.” The game on Saturday was “one of those games in which there is a lot of drama”. The dramas then continued on the Chelsea training ground with Antonio Rüdiger as the main actor. However, Tuchel did not comment on this. The blues have to be careful not to spoil the revitalized season with too much drama. And Rüdiger has to be careful not to mess with another coach after he was infected with ex-coach Frank Lampard and his assistant.
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