Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has insisted that both his side and Liverpool still have the “belief” they can catch Manchester City, using an example from the Bundesliga.
Pep Guardiola’s side moved 12 points clear of the Reds on Saturday, who have played two fewer games than City, while Chelsea currently sit a point above Liverpool having played a game more.
Liverpool travel to Chelsea later today in a crucial game at Stamford Bridge, as both sides look to keep within touching distance of the league leaders.
However, Tuchel has said he expects the Reds to be competing for the title until the end of the season, having learned lessons from Jurgen Klopp ’s achievements with Borussia Dortmund when Guardiola was Bayern Munich boss.
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“As long as I'm here at my 'Borussia Chelsea', I will do nothing other than try to make other teams under-perform and we will even try to make Manchester City under-perform and we will not stop,” the ex-Dortmund coach told The Telegraph .
“And I am pretty sure Jurgen will do the same to get the best out of Liverpool and we will not stop chasing and believing.
“That is maybe the difference now with the situation in the Bundesliga. We have the belief.”
Tuchel continued: “I am absolutely convinced that without injuries, having key players not out for weeks and having Covid at the same time, we could still be in the back of them [Man City].
“Everything needs to fall in place for us to produce that kind of consistent level that City and, normally, Liverpool can produce. That’s why there’s no need to get negative, to lose faith. The opposite. We will stay hungry.
“Jurgen did it with Dortmund and we came close. So both of us know how to catch favourites.”
Chelsea succeeded in setting the early title pace during the opening weeks of the season but injuries and covid absences have since dampened their momentum.
Tuchel was unable to name a complete matchday squad for his side’s match with Wolves last month due to the extensive problems within the Chelsea camp.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will be encouraged by the fact that Chelsea have won just one of their last seven home league games, drawing five, ahead of their clash at Stamford Bridge.
