Thomas Tuchel insists Chelsea’s top four status isn’t ‘safe’ ahead of the club’s clash with West Ham this weekend.
Chelsea welcome their London rivals to Stamford Bridge on Sunday with both teams chasing points in the race to secure European qualification.
Tuchel’s side are third in the Premier League at present, but a 4-2 defeat to fifth-placed Arsenal in midweek saw their advantage over the chasing pack reduced.
Chelsea remain five points ahead of both Tottenham and Arsenal, with a game in hand on the North London duo, but Tuchel has warned his team there is work to be done before Champions League football is assured for next season.
“Feeling secure does not keep you on the edge, not fully alert,” said Tuchel at his pre-match press conference. “So I do not feel safe and nobody should in the Premier League.”
Tuchel also provided an update on the fitness of his squad ahead of the meeting with the Hammers and confirmed that both Mateo Kovacic and Antonio Rudiger have been ruled out.
”For Sunday they [Kovacic and Rudiger] are not back. But no other new injuries.”