Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel refused to pull any punches after his side\u2019s 2-1 defeat at Southampton in the Premier League on Tuesday, choosing to slam his side instead for not being tough enough for the job.<\/p>\n
Former Manchester City ace Raheem Sterling gave Chelsea an early lead at St Mary\u2019s but his third goal in two games was insufficient as goals by Romeo Lavia and Adam Armstrong turned the score around before the halftime was blown.<\/p>\n
The hapless visitors plodded their way through and made little impression after the break as they slipped to their second successive away defeat.<\/p>\n
Clearly the way his side lost the plot and control of the game despite taking the lead would have given Tuchel cause for concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we\u2019re not tough enough at the moment to win these matches away,\u201d Tuchel told reporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne set-piece again. One sloppy defending again. Then we are off balance. We were not tough enough as a team to react or push it over the line for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
With only seven points from their opening five games, Chelsea are already moving tangentially to their preferred pace and Tuchel will keeping his fingers crossed that something positive would materialise before the transfer window closes this week.<\/p>\n
As it was, the team was forced to cope without the likes of injured N\u2019Golo Kante and Reece James while Conor Gallagher was still under suspension.<\/p>\n
But an indomitable Tuchel wasn\u2019t in the frame fo mind for any excuses.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not enough to win away matches, it is not enough to play 20-25 minutes on the level we want. It is too easy to put us off balance, to beat us, to confuse us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is too easy. It happened against Leeds. We need to understand why and find solutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe lose concentration, we lose our plan and lose consistency, it is too easy to beat us. We need to have answers, we need to step up and play a level higher if needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the reverse, after initially suffering a debilitating loss to Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the season, Southampton have reacted well and have now scrambled back to being level on seven points with Chelsea.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have this DNA, we want to do this against every opponent and we never stop running, this is a way you can hurt big teams when you do it committed,\u201d Ralph Hasenhuttl said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven when we were 1-0 down I didn\u2019t feel we were struggling. With this effort you deserve a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
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