Chelsea and Tuchel play catch-up with Spurs as transfer links remain

Thomas Tuchel believes Tottenham have a head start on Chelsea in the season’s early weeks and are well placed to capitalise on the comparative stability they have enjoyed this summer.

The teams meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in a clash of top-four contenders that has come earlier than Tuchel would have considered ideal. His side start as slight favourites given their four wins over Spurs in all competitions in 2021-22 and the fact they finished a league position higher in third. Both won their opening games but Tuchel suggested that Antonio Conte, who returns to face his old employers, has benefited from a pre-season in which the “roads were clear” in preparing for the campaign.

“They took advantage of the situation, which is fair enough,” he said. “Now we try to find solutions to win this game and to be as fast as possible on our highest level. It can also help to have a big match like this early: it lifts you up and gives you a push, which is sometimes needed.”

Asked exactly what he thought Tottenham had capitalised on, he continued: “They took advantage of their situation in that they have a stable club, the ownership was clear, and it was clear that they reached the Champions League and took advantage to reinforce their squad very early. It was very straightforward. They had a calm pre-season. The roads were clear. It seems like they’re a bit ahead of us from the start, out of the blocks, but it does not mean that you win the race just because you win the start.”

Chelsea are still making up ground after the uncertainty that preceded Todd Boehly’s takeover and remain desperate to make additions, particularly in attack and central defence. Tuchel flat-batted questions about the Leicester centre-back Wesley Fofana