Tuchel knows he cannot compete with the suave looks and man-about-town fashion style of Giroud, who he described as a leader within his squad.
I try to close the gap, he said. At the moment it s not possible because I arrived with only one suitcase, so there s no chance for me.
I will have to trust you that the guy is top-notch and highest level. I will try to close the gap, so it s not embarrassing for Oli that I m his coach.
Tuchel stopped short of promising Giroud a starting role against United, but he would clearly have no reservations about the striker s credentials for such an important game.
He s used to playing a high rhythm, he s used to playing Premier League, and this helps him a lot to be on this level, Tuchel said.
He s in a fantastic mood every day to push everybody around him, to win every little game we do in training and be very positive with everybody around him.
John Terry s one and only goal against Man Utd!
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
Chelsea will be without centre-back Thiago Silva, who has been absent for three weeks with a thigh injury but managed an individual training session on Friday and is making big progress , according to Tuchel.
The Blues boss was typically complimentary of a United side he knows well, declaring they can hurt you any second with individual quality and speed .
Chelsea go into the game six points behind United, who head into the weekend in second place. The Blues went down 2-0 to United at Stamford Bridge last season and have not lost consecutive home Premier League games against the Red Devils since October 1995.
In all competitions, United have won their past three away games against Chelsea, winning in the FA Cup in February 2019, EFL Cup in October 2019 and Premier League in February 2020. They have never won four in a row away against Chelsea.
If we get a win out of this game it will be huge for us, Tuchel added. If they can a win it will be huge for them to put a difference between us, to increase the difference.
