Thomas Tuchel aware of Chelsea pressure to deliver after summer transfer rebuild

Thomas Tuchel has admitted that he is aware of the pressure on him after being granted signings during the transfer window as he rebuilds his Chelsea squad.

Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Zakaria are the stand-out names in terms of incomings this summer.

The likes of Carney Chukuemeka, Cesare Casadei and Gabriel Slonina also arrived as the Blues plan for the future.

Chelsea ended the transfer window with the highest spend out of any side in the Premier League, breaking their own record of highest spend in a single window, which was previously in 2020.

Raheem Sterling celebrating for Chelsea (Alamy)

With the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Marcos Alonso, Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku all departing in the summer, Chelsea were in need of a rebuild.

Fofana’s arrival added to Koulibaly as the Blues replaced the central defensive duo and look to build to a future under Tuchel.

However, having been backed so heavily in the transfer market, Tuchel is aware of the pressure on him to succeed.

The Blues have already lost twice in the Premier League this season, away to Leeds and Southampton, and the German will look to recover as they face West Ham on Saturday.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Tuchel admitted that he is aware of the pressure after being heavily backed by Chelsea’s new owners.

“Before we talk about challenging for the title we should be ready to challenge West Ham for a win and then we go on,” he admitted. “It’s too many losses already. Too may points dropped to talk about big things. 

“Just because the transfer period ended is not the only point in a turnaround. We need a kind of turnaround in this season.”

Tuchel continued to reveal that while Chelsea are in transition, they must perform well in the league this season after paying huge fees for incoming transfers this summer.

He continued: “I told you many times I think we are a club in transition, paying the price not only in the money for new players but pay a price for the last half a year of insecurity.

“I think the teams that are dominating the league, getting earlier into their rhythm, are the teams who knew since many months what they want, where they are, the role they play, the role they attack this league.

Thomas Tuchel on the Chelsea bench. (Alamy)

"Was not so clear and maybe not so clear until today for us. 

“We have to come from behind because we struggle result wise. We have periods in every game we play okay, periods in every game except for Tottenham where we don’t play okay. We got punished with results. This is where we are.”

The German finalised by stating that he is under pressure, but that this has always been the case since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

“The pressure is on. The responsibility is on me. 

“It’s always like this, no?”