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Football London
Football London
Sport
Aaron Reid

Thomas Tuchel told what he must do against Aston Villa as Chelsea face Champions League quandary

Thomas Tuchel has a number of selection headaches ahead of Chelsea's final day showdown with Aston Villa.

The Blues currently sit third in the Premier League table, but are only one point above top-four rivals Leicester City and Liverpool going into the final game week.

Wins for the Reds and Foxes would mean Chelsea would need to pick up all three points at Villa Park to secure a place in next season's Champions League.

However, the German boss will also have one eye on next week's Champions League final with Manchester City, who have the luxury of resting players tomorrow against Everton, should Pep Guardiola choose to rotate his team, as they have already been crowned champions.

Ahead of Sunday afternoon's fixtures, former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley has warned Tuchel against resting any key players.

“No, he can’t,” the former Chelsea midfielder told ESPN FC when asked if the former PSG manager should tinker his team for Sunday's clash with Villa

“He tinkered in the FA Cup final and lost, deservedly so.

“I know he’s got a Champions League final coming up a week or so later, but he has to forget about that.

“He’s got to play his strongest team, and if [they] pick up a couple of injuries, that’s the way it is.

“He cannot afford, after coming in and doing the job he’s done, for it all to unravel by trying to be a little bit too clever. Because Villa are not a poor side.

“So he has to, [having a] Champions League final or not, play his strongest team.”

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