Thomas Tuchel insists Chelsea’s clashes with Manchester United ‘will always be big’ as he prepares to take his side to Old Trafford.
Chelsea travel to face the Red Devils on Thursday evening with both side’s adrift of their pre-season ambitions in the Premier League this season.
The Blues are third at present but some distance from the Premier League’s top two, whilst a run of three defeats in four games has all but ended United’s chances of securing Champions League football.
Whilst tomorrow’s fixture will lack the importance of past Premier League encounters, Tuchel insists that clashes between the teams ‘will always be big’ no matter where the sides are in the table.
“I am personally very happy to face them at Old Trafford,” Tuchel told his pre-match press conference.
“For me personally it is one of the biggest stages. I arrive with a strong club and team, the best way to arrive. This match will always be big for me no matter what position or form they are in.
“That’s why we prepare in the best possible way. We don’t’ reflect so much in their situation. We focus on their last matches. We should not get confused by the lack of results. For me the squad is full of quality.”
United and Chelsea have regularly contested Premier League titles since the turn of the century, but have fallen behind Liverpool and Manchester City in recent campaigns.
Tuchel admits his goal is to return Chelsea to a status as challengers for the Premier League, whilst he has also backed United to ‘recover’ from their recent struggles.
“We would love to be in a title decider but there are two other teams in red and blue who now make their point. We have to try to do everything we can to close the gap.
“Man United is one of the biggest clubs, one of the most successful clubs. I am very grateful, very excited to play there with a strong team and this is a great feeling. I am not concerned about Man United, first of all it is not my job, second, they will always recover.”
