Thomas Tuchel said his Chelsea side had taken a big step towards ensuring a top-four finish in the Premier League but offered a note of caution after his team’s crucial 2-1 revenge win over Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

The win, three days after they lost to Leicester in the FA Cup final, lifted Chelsea above them into third place with 67 points and if they win their last game away to Aston Villa on Sunday they will guaranteed a Champions League berth.

Had they lost they would have likely been faced with the prospect of having to beat Manchester City in this month’s Champions League final to return to the competition next season.

“It felt like a huge effort and a top performance. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a big step but it’s only a step, it’s not done yet,” the German, who has transformed Chelsea’s season since taking over from Frank Lampard in January, said.

“We have to get over the line on Sunday. It was a team effort full of intensity, full of hunger and ambition. We played many, many minutes with a lot of quality.”

Goals from Antonio Rudiger and Jorginho mean a win away to Aston Villa will seal third spot — an amazing turnaround after Chelsea were in mid-table when Tuchel took charge.

“It was in my opinion a well-deserved win but it’s not the time for praise and celebration,” he said. “It’s not the time about philosophy and whether this is more than three points.

“There’s another game to catch on Sunday we’ll be prepared and aware to finish the job.”

For the first time Tuchel was greeted by home fans at Stamford Bridge with the 8,000 allowed in creating a great atmosphere. He said it had made a difference.

“It was a completely different match. Football with spectators and without spectators, you can’t compare,” he said.

“It was amazing and I said to your colleagues it’s exactly what we want. We want everybody happy that comes to the stadium and feels the energy from the team.”

Tuchel also had encouraging news about N’Golo Kante who went off with what looked like a muscle injury in the first half — a worry with the Champions League final looming.

“N’Golo is not injured. He told me — and I understood him right in French — he went out before an injury. He felt his hamstrings and was worried that he would get injured if he continued to play,” Tuchel said.

“Hopefully, NG will come back as we are a different team with NG and without NG. We compensated well without him today
Manchester United were held to a 1-1 home draw by relegated Fulham in their penultimate Premier League match of the season after visiting defender Joe Bryan cancelled out a stunning Edinson Cavani opener on Tuesday.

United stretched their winless league run to three games after home defeats by Leicester City and Liverpool but were already assured of a top-four finish, prompting manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to leave striker Marcus Rashford on the bench.

Cavani netted with a sublime lob from 40 metres in the 15th minute to delight 10,000 home fans at Old Trafford who returned to the stadium for the first time in 14 months as the British government eased COVID-19 lockdown measures.

But United wasted a string of chances to add to their tally and were punished in the 76th minute as Bryan got on the end of Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s cross and headed it past goalkeeper David De Gea at the far post.
Patrick Bamford’s 16th Premier League goal of the season helped Leeds United defeat Southampton in front of 8,000 fans at St Mary’s Stadium.

Bamford, who had earlier missed a chance when he only had goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to beat, flicked the ball into the net following Rodrigo’s ball over the Saints defence.

Leeds added a second in injury time when Bamford’s strike was parried by McCarthy, with Tyler Roberts converting the rebound.

Southampton’s best chance came early on but Che Adams’ header was tipped over by Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.

The victory takes Leeds up above Arsenal and Everton into eighth and guarantees Marcelo Bielsa’s side a top-10 finish.

Southampton remain 14th in the Premier League with one game of the season remaining.
Manager Pep Guardiola says Manchester City must improve for the Champions League final after Brighton came back to beat his 10-man side at Amex Stadium.

New Premier League champions City, who face Chelsea in the European showpiece on 29 May, blew a two-goal advantage to lose 3-2 on a raucous evening on England’s south coast, played out in front of 7,495 fans.

Ilkay Gundogan silenced the supporters with a second-minute opener, but City were a man down after nine minutes, when Joao Cancelo was judged to have brought down Danny Welbeck, who was goal side of the defender.

Phil Foden’s superb solo effort put the visitors 2-0 up – but Leandro Trossard gave Brighton hope with a cool close-range finish, and the home side then put intense pressure on the champions’ goal.

Adam Webster levelled, rising highest in the box to head home Pascal Gross’s delivery and then, with 14 minutes left, Dan Burn sent the fans into raptures with the winner, following up his own blocked shot to steer the rebound into the corner of the net.

“Eleven against 11 against Brighton is tough, 11 against 10 is difficult so we have to improve for the final,” said Guardiola.

“Unfortunately after 0-2, we conceded a goal so quick and after they push a lot, we were more tired and could not keep the ball as much as possible – we could not do it and unfortunately we lost the game.

“On Sunday, with our people, we are going to lift the [Premier League] trophy. And after we are going to go for the final of the Champions League.

“I am concerned because this is the final of the Champions League, because the opponent is so tough.”

City also lost Gundogan to injury in the second half, but Guardiola provided positive news about the midfielder after the game.

“We are going to check tomorrow,” said the manager of the German, who had earlier scored his 17th goal of the season.

“The doctor is quite optimistic. The problem is a kick and he was running in the second half with disruption and I didn’t want to take a risk.”

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