Thomas Tuchel: Season-defining week ahead for Chelsea

Thomas Tuchel has admitted Chelsea face a season-defining week after a second cup final defeat on penalties to Liverpool in the same season.

Kostas Tsimikas’ nerveless spot-kick sealed a 6-5 penalties FA Cup triumph for the Reds, with Cesar Azpilicueta and Mason Mount missing for Chelsea.

The Blues were left to suffer yet more shoot-out misery, after the 11-10 Carabao Cup final loss to Jurgen Klopp’s men in February.

Chelsea will host Leicester and Watford next week to close their Premier League season, with the Blues yet to tie up their third-place finish.

Tuchel has handed the Chelsea squad two days off now to recover – and refocus minds ahead of a crucial end to a punishing campaign.

Asked to judge Chelsea’s season, Tuchel replied: “It heavily depends on what we do in the next two games and where we end up.

“Then I will give my honest opinion.

“We’ve reached consecutive domestic finals, and the FA Cup final two years in a row.

It will be difficult to pick the players up now, harder after defeat, but not impossible- Thomas Tuchel

“I will never promise victories there, but we will always give input, heart, passion, commitment, and we will always live up to our fullest, to have no regrets. So we will not stop doing it.

“It will be difficult to pick the players up now, harder after defeat, but not impossible.

“And maybe the best way about it is to be honest, we have now two days off and we need to prepare.

“The season is not finished, because we have goals to reach in Premier League.

“This is sometimes hard, sometimes it’s good, but it is what it is.

“Life goes on and it will go on latest next Thursday, and you’re in the middle of things at Stamford Bridge.

“We have still things to play for but it will be a bit harder