Thomas Tuchel happy for Chelsea to be ‘the bad guys’ against Liverpool

Thomas Tuchel has branded Jurgen Klopp “the master of being the underdog” as he praised his compatriot for fostering a countrywide “sympathy” for Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola lit a fuse between his Manchester City side and Klopp’s Liverpool by claiming “everyone in this country” wants the Reds to pull off an unprecedented quadruple this season.

Liverpool could yet sweep the board of Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League.

But Chelsea can thwart Liverpool’s bid to break new ground in English football by beating Klopp’s men in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.

German managers Tuchel and Klopp will meet for the 19th time in top-level football this weekend, in a repeat of February’s Carabao Cup final when Liverpool prevailed 11-10 on penalties.

And Blues boss Tuchel admitted admiration for Klopp’s ability to engender neutral support for the Anfield club.

“There are huge sympathies for Liverpool, I feel that as well, in the whole country and I can understand it,” said Tuchel.

“Of course it is also because of Jurgen, but in general what this club stands for and how they run the business, and how the fans push their team.

“You have the feeling it’s purely about football and this is like a huge history in this club and there is a huge sympathy for it.

“If you fight against it, like Pep for many, many years, I can understand his comment that it feels sometimes like this.

“But at the same time, I don’t think it’s only here. It’s in Germany like this and in France too.”

Asked where those sympathies come from, Tuchel said: “You know Klopp is the master of being the underdog.

“He can talk you into being the underdog against Villareal and against Benfica, and it’s a miracle, miracle how they even draw against them.

“He