Thomas Tuchel tells Chelsea not to get superstitious over home form troubles

Thomas Tuchel has told his Chelsea players not to let superstition cloud their bid to boost their ailing home form.

Chelsea slipped to a third-straight home defeat in all competitions for the first time since 1993 with Wednesday’s 4-2 Stamford Bridge loss to Arsenal.

The Blues have slumped to ninth in the home-form standings after seven wins, five draws and three league losses.

Chelsea remain on course for a third-place Premier League finish though, with Tuchel’s men second in the away-day rankings thanks to 11 wins, three draws and just two defeats on their travels.

The Blues host West Ham in another London derby on Sunday, with Tuchel admitting a fragility in his side’s home performances – but also warning against an overreaction.

Asked if now is the time to restore Stamford Bridge’s fortress factor, Tuchel replied: “Obviously, I didn’t know those numbers but it’s obvious that we are behind and that’s very unusual, and it’s very unusual also for me in my experience not only here but over the last years.

“It’s unusual and I don’t know what it is, if it was just the one thing, we would switch dressing rooms or take another hotel or something like this. But that would may be more superstition than anything else.

“I have no solution but it’s also not the level that we want to produce in home games. It’s a bit fragile at the moment I have to say, it was against Brentford and against Real Madrid.

“It was straight away better in the next three games. And then we had a good start to the Arsenal match actually; I was very happy with the energy and the quality.

Don't get superstitious now, and don't believe in things that maybe are not there. But it is another challenge on top of the others- Thomas Tuchel on Chelsea's home form