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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Thomas Tuchel's No.2 fears Chelsea's title hopes face "difficult" obstacle

Thomas Tuchel's assistant manager Zsolt Low has admitted it's "challenging" to keep the Chelsea squad motivated after their Champions League triumph.

The Blues defeated Manchester City 1-0 in May's UCL final but haven't won the Premier League since 2016-17 and are keen to end their wait.

Low told Digi Sport via Origo: "It’s important to keep Chelsea at that level and improve.

"The summer transfer window has been very good, we have been able to get players that we desperately needed and we can move forward with them.

"After the Champions League win, it is very difficult and challenging for our players to stay motivated, but we are constantly working on this."

Chelsea assistant manager Zsolt Low isn't getting carried away with the team's progress (Getty Images)

Low and his boss Tuchel are doing a good job at the moment, with the team winning six of their eight Premier League games this term to sit top of the table.

Chelsea's only league defeat so far was at home to Guardiola's City, the defending champions, in September.

Low has been working with Tuchel since the latter was appointed Paris Saint-Germain manager in the summer of 2018.

The former Hungary international was previously Ralph Hasenhuttl's assistant at RB Leipzig before linking up with Tuchel.

Discussing his role in Tuchel's operation, Low said: “A lot of people are asking me what exactly my role in the team is.

"We do everything together from training, planning to creating the framework, tracking the opposition, analysing our matches.

"We get together in a small group, and we live and work together all the time when we’re at the training ground.

"We also discuss what we saw during the matches together, we share our experiences together at half-time, we may try to change things.

"The manager always has the last word, but we always discuss the processes together, so I can always have my say on everything."

Low has also discussed Jorginho's chances of winning this year's Ballon d'Or after the Chelsea ace was nominated for the prestigious award.

Jorginho was named Men's Player of the Year by Uefa in August after helping Italy win Euro 2020 and the Blues become Champions of Europe.

Can Chelsea win the Premier League title this season? Let us know in the comments below

Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has also backed Jorginho or his team-mate N'Golo Kante to win the Ballon d'Or, although Lionel Messi is the favourite to win a seventh crown.

Low added: "He is a sensational man who excels not only in his knowledge and quality, but also in his human qualities. I would consider him absolutely deserving if he won the Ballon d’Or.

"And I would be glad that, not only would the title of player of the year be decided between two or three offensive players, but there would be an opportunity for someone else to win one with hard work and very great discipline."

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