![FA Cup finalists Chelsea 'drained' after gruelling season: Tuchel](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/59/d7/1a/FA-Cup-finalists-Chelsea--drained---524206.jpg)
-
Top China, US diplomats begin meeting in Laos
-
First Olympic medals up for grabs as rain disrupts Games
-
Epic pool rivalry lights up first day of Olympic medal action
-
IOC apologises for South Korea gaffe in Olympics opening ceremony
-
Bangladesh says student leaders held for their own safety
-
Japan's Sado mines added to World Heritage list
-
'Windmill love' sees Dutch artist become mill operator
-
US defends law forcing sale of TikTok app
-
Messi out for defending champ Miami as Leagues Cup begins
-
Australia bans uranium mining at Indigenous site
-
Divers attempt to reach sunken Philippine oil tanker
-
Trump accuses Harris of anti-Semitism in overblown speech
-
Blinken set for talks with Chinese foreign minister in Laos
-
Coughlin clings to lead at LPGA Canadian Women's Open
-
Trump offers tech sector policy flips ahead of election
-
Spacecraft to swing by Earth, Moon on path to Jupiter
-
What's the fallout of Mexican drug lords' capture?
-
Video game makers see actors as AI 'data,' says union on strike
-
Chinese qualifier Shang to face Thompson in ATP Atlanta semis
-
Concern grows as Venezuela blocks election observers
-
'Massive attack' on French rail threatens more chaos
-
'We did it!': France breathes sigh of relief after Olympics ceremony
-
Blinken, in Laos, set for talks with Chinese foreign minister
-
Regional concern grows as Venezuela blocks vote observers
-
Historic river parade, Dion show-stopper ignite Paris Olympics
-
Rainy Paris Olympic parade dampens many spectators' spirits
-
G20 pledges to work together to tax ultra-rich
-
The one of a kind Paris opening ceremony: five memorable moments
-
Justin Timberlake seeks to dismiss DUI case
-
Warner Brothers Discovery sues NBA over Amazon rights deal
-
Kobe Bryant locker, Maradona jersey up for auction in New York
-
Historic river parade launches Paris Olympics
-
Stocks rise as US inflation data boosts rate cut hopes
-
New York family of Holocaust victim reclaims Nazi-looted art
-
NASA Mars rover captures rock that could hold fossilized microbes
-
Thousands evacuate season's biggest wildfire in northern California
-
Sinaloa Cartel co-founder pleads not guilty after stunning US capture
-
Ethiopia mourns victims of landslide tragedy
-
Lady Gaga adds sparkle to star-studded Olympic show
-
Airbus and Boeing supremacy secure despite turbulence
-
Teams sail down Seine in rain-soaked Olympics opening ceremony
-
Norris hoping for more after topping Belgian practice times
-
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
-
Trump slams rivals as he meets Netanyahu in Florida
-
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
-
Mott's England future uncertain as ECB chief fails to offer support
-
Trump meets Israeli PM Netanyahu in Florida
-
S.African police say 95 Libyans detained at suspected military camp
-
Blinken set for talks with Chinese counterpart in Laos
-
Norris heads Piastri in McLaren one-two at Belgian GP practice
![FA Cup finalists Chelsea 'drained' after gruelling season: Tuchel](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/59/d7/1a/FA-Cup-finalists-Chelsea--drained---524206.jpg)
FA Cup finalists Chelsea 'drained' after gruelling season: Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel admitted Tuesday that Chelsea's gruelling season was taking its toll on his players as he attempts to lift the FA Cup finalists for the final few games of the campaign.
Chelsea, third in the Premier League, are one point ahead of London rivals Arsenal after just one win in their past five games.
The stumble for the Stamford Bridge side, who play Liverpool in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday having already lost to the Merseysiders in the League Cup final, follows their aggregate defeat by Real Madrid in last month's Champions League quarter-finals.
Chelsea have been operating under a cloud of uncertainty after Russian owner Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale in early March -- just days before he was sanctioned by the British government following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"We look a bit drained, tired mentally... this is understandable given the circumstances around the club in which we play in," Tuchel said on the eve of Wednesday's match against struggling Leeds.
"This is draining, this is challenging. We had some knockout games in which we play after the national break, with huge emotional input, huge emotions to deal with.
"From losing to Real Madrid, winning at Real Madrid (second leg), losing the Champions League then suddenly being at Wembley and then suddenly in the race in two weeks with four matches against different teams in the Premier League.
"It is quite challenging. After all we have a lot of matches in our legs, in our bones."
Tuchel said he felt his side could do better than they had done in their past two fixtures -- a defeat by Everton followed by a draw against Wolves.
"It was not a lack of motivation (against Wolves), it was the opposite," the German boss added.
"There was good signs. We trust the team, we trust our players and trust what brought us here.
"Now is the moment for me to stay calm, take it step by step and finish the season on a positive note."
Tuchel cancelled the players' day off on Sunday following the 2-2 home draw with Wolves.
"We came in on Sunday, we'd planned a free day but after the disappointment it was not even to punish them," he said. "It was normally a free day, and of course maybe some felt it was a punishment but it wasn't."
B.Shevchenko--BTB