Tuchel admits he gets out of bed early because of Everton

When Thomas Tuchel signed the contract to be the next Chelsea manager, Everton and Carlo Ancelotti were certainly not on his mind as the rival club. It was more like Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool. With Red's current situation and with Chelsea’s minimal but deserved 1-0 win over the current champions, the German finished with Liverpool for this season, but Everton and Carlo Ancelotti are here. And they are not to be underestimated.

The Toffies are in a mini-series of three consecutive wins, and although it’s not anywhere near the Tuchel’s ten-game unbeaten league games run, they are sitting just one point behind Chelsea, with another game in hand. So, it won’t be easy for the Blues, but don’t worry, Tuchel is already out of bed early.

„There is only one point difference between the teams. Everton had a very strong start to the season, had a big win at Anfield last month, and has kept the momentum going. They have a very strong squad, very physical, full of talent. They have got strong strikers, a dangerous number ten in James Rodriguez, strong experienced players, a super-strong manager at the sidelines. Carlo knows how to keep the momentum going, how to keep the flow going. It is good that these games are on and it is good that we have another big, big match. That drives us, gets us out of bed early. It is very natural to have to be at our top-level again. You don’t need many words because the situation is very clear. It does not change. We will need another top-level performance to be able to win and this is what we are up for at Stamford Bridge" said the German ahead of the match.

Thomas Tuchel 'super happy' with a win and Mount's anime-like celebration

While he is right about Everton, their season and manager, he still might get additional „help“, since James Rodriguez is still not 100%. In fact, even his manager doesn’t know will he play or not.

"I don't know, I think we have to check. Maybe he is not for the game against Chelsea, for the next one yes" said Ancelotti.

Midfielder Tom Davies and defender Seamus Coleman have also sat out the last two and need to be assessed, while center-back Yerry Mina and midfielder Fabian Delph are still sidelined.

Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 25 Premier League home games against Everton, but if there is a man who can master the first win since 1994, it’s Ancelotti. The Italian manager is the main reason why the Toffies are fighting for the Champions League. And the players rubbed off his knowledge, calmness, and confidence.

„I know all the players are absolutely loving it, the fans are loving having him as our manager, you can see the improvements we've made as a team and hopefully we've found that manager now we can keep for a long time and bring that stability. I think just having that knowledge and us players knowing he's been through it all, whatever he says you trust in 100%. You know he has a reason behind everything he does and everyone buys into everything the manager says tactically and all the decisions he makes. I think he makes the whole squad happy, he obviously rotates the team quite a bit and gets results in the meantime while doing it. That's something that's not easy to do but obviously comes down to his experience. He's been brilliant" says England international Michael Keane.

So, Tuchel has to get out of bed early to prepare for the match. Will Ancelotti do the same?

PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND 29

Saturday

Burnley - Arsenal 1-1 (1-1)

/Wood 30 - Aubameyang 5/

Sheffield United - Southampton 0-2 (0-1)

/Ward-Prowse 32 pen, Adams 49/

Aston Villa - Wolverhampton 0-0

Brighton & Hove Albion - Leicester City 1-2 (1-0)

/Lallana 10 - Iheanacho 62, Amartey 87/

Sunday

WBA - Newcastle United 0-0

Liverpool - Fulham 0-1 (0-1)

/Lemina 45/

Manchester City - Manchester United 0-2 (0-1)

/Fernandes 2 pen, Shaw 50/

Tottenham - Crystal Palace 4-1 (1-1)

/Bale 15, 49, Kane 52, 76/

Monday

21:00 Chelsea - Everton

23:00 West Ham United - Leeds United