Thomas Tuchel has insisted Chelsea would be “stupid” to think they can compete for the Premier League title with their squad ravaged by Covid-19 and injuries.
Danny Welbeck’s added-time header stunned the embattled Blues to steal Brighton a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.
Romelu Lukaku’s early header ensured Chelsea jumped over Liverpool into second place, but the Blues only led Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool by one point with the Reds having a game in hand.
Reece James suffered a nasty-looking hamstring injury and Andreas Christensen a back problem to lengthen Chelsea’s list of absentees, with seven players still in Covid-19 isolation.
Chelsea have now slipped to four draws in their past five home league matches, to drop eight points behind leaders Manchester City.
Asked if the Blues can still compete for the title, Tuchel replied: “How should we be in it? We have seven Covid cases. We have five or six players out for six or more weeks. How should we compete in a title race?
“Everyone else who has a full squad, everybody in training has the full power to come through this league.
“We would be stupid to think we can do it out of Covid and injuries and just play, and everybody would be stupid to do it without 23 fit players.”
Asked if the Premier League’s integrity has been lost through the differing Covid profiles of each team, Tuchel said: “This is the reality. This is where we are and we have to adapt to the demands of the situation which you are in.
“I competed very hard for the win at Brighton at home. I don’t know what I can expect from my players in terms of physicality, intensity or minutes.
"Nobody knows any more because we have never done something like this. We play trial and error and see what we can do.
“I will protect my team. We can play better but we need the full squad over weeks and weeks. It’s a hamstring injury for Reece James which is a huge blow, and a back injury for Andreas Christensen.”
Chelsea could now be caught in the grip of a defensive injury plague before Sunday’s pivotal clash with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea v Brighton ratings
James and Christensen will probably miss out, Thiago Silva is still doubtful with a thigh problem and Ben Chilwell is out for the season due to knee surgery.
A fuming Tuchel hit out at referee Mike Dean for denying Chelsea a “100 per cent penalty” and also a possible goal for Mason Mount.
Tuchel felt Christian Pulisic was definitely fouled in the box without censure for Brighton in the second half, while Mount rolled the ball into the empty net only to see play brought back for a foul.
“We have a 100 per cent penalty against Christian Pulisic, a 50-50 challenge from Mason Mount right before their equaliser,” he said.
“Why does he even need to whistle before the ball is over the line? We have VAR to check. Is he so sure or does he want to keep the tension up?
"And the penalty, it’s a joke. Honestly it’s a joke not to intervene from VAR.”
Brighton proved full value for their draw amid a madcap encounter, with former Arsenal striker Welbeck popping up with the leveller with just his seventh touch having left the bench.
“I thought it was a fantastic performance from the players, full of courage, quality and against a good side, of course,” said Brighton boss Graham Potter.
“To come here and be ourselves was a big challenge. So credit to the players. They were fantastic tonight.”
Asked if Chelsea should have had a penalty for the foul on Pulisic, Potter said: “I’d have to see it back. Live, I didn’t think it was. I guess that’s why they’ve got VAR.
“If it was 100 per cent I think it would be given. I didn’t think it was at the time but I was quite a way away, to be honest.”
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Saturday's results
Brighton 1-1 Leicester City
Everton 1-0 Cardiff City
Manchester United 0-0 Crystal Palace
Watford 0-3 Liverpool
West Ham United 0-4 Manchester City
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
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Fixtures
50-over match
UAE v Lancashire, starts at 10am
Champion County match
MCC v Surrey, four-day match, starting on Sunday, March 24, play starts at 10am
Both matches are at ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City. Admission is free.
