Chelsea manager unhappy with team’s toughness

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel pulled no punches after his side’s 2-1 defeat at Southampton in the Premier League on Tuesday, accusing his side of not being tough enough.

Raheem Sterling’s third goal in two games gave Chelsea an early lead at St Mary’s but goals by Romeo Lavia and Adam Armstrong turned it around before halftime.

The visitors made little impression after the break as they slipped to their second successive away defeat.

What will have worried Tuchel was the way his side lost control of the game despite taking the lead.

“Obviously, we’re not tough enough at the moment to win these matches away,” Tuchel told reporters.

“One 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.”

With seven points from their opening five games, Chelsea are already off the pace and Tuchel will hope something materialises before the transfer window closes this week.

After losing heavily to Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the season, Southampton have reacted well and are now level on seven points with Chelsea. – Reuters