Chelsea news, transfers & rumours: Blues clinch Champions League spot despite defeat

Thomas Tuchel has warned his Chelsea players to watch out for Jack Grealish in Sunday's Premier League clash. "Look at the statistics! Aston Villa with and without him are different teams," he said.&nbsp;"He is involved in almost every offensive situation. He is very good at decision-making. "He has a lot of composure in assisting, finishing and bringing people around him in top situations, dangerous situations to be able to score. "He is a top player and [there is] a lot to take care of and be aware of to control him on Sunday. What he does in the future is in his hands.

Tuchel highlights Grealish threat

Aston Villa star could pose problems for the Blues

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel wants to revive the club's interest in signing West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, according to the <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/05/22/chelsea-revive-interest-declan-rice-could-use-tammy-abraham/" target="_blank">Telegraph</a>. The Blues boss wants the England star, who could cost around £90 million, to strengthen his midfield - however a deal is only likely if they qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea go into a three-way fight for the final two Champions League places today, with Liverpool and Leicester also in the running.

Tuchel still pushing for Rice deal (Telegraph)

The Blues boss is still keen on a deal for the West Ham midfielder

Chelsea will have to wait on the fitness of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy ahead of the Champions League final. The Blues will tackle Manchester City in Porto next Saturday, though the presence of their goalkeeper is not certain. Mendy went off at the break during Chelsea’s 2-1 reverse against Aston Villa to be replaced by Kepa Arrizabalaga. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/chelsea-to-sweat-over-mendy-injury-ahead-of-champions-league/qq9a695i9z5f10kd9iihsn68i" target="_blank">Read more here!</a>

Chelsea to sweat over Mendy injury ahead of Champions League final

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel could not hide his frustration at losing to Aston Villa despite guiding his team to a Champions League berth. "It was our responsibility to lose today, we had enough chances. The performance was by far good enough to win the game," the manager stated following Sunday's 2-1 defeat. "We did not score, conceded two cheap goals and it was a defeat in the end. We are lucky to escape today. "We did not hit the target, the last touch was not precise enough. It was a very strong last half an hour and we had two big chances to score. We fought, tried everything but forgot to score."

Tuchel rues missed chances in Villa reverse

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Chilwell on SkySports: "We were nowhere near good enough as a team today."— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) <a href="https://twitter.com/NizaarKinsella/status/1396511649729818624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

'We were nowhere good enough'

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">FULL-TIME: Leicester 2-4 Tottenham Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea Liverpool 2-0 Crystal Palace Liverpool - 69 points Chelsea - 67 Leicester - 66 Liverpool &amp; Chelsea qualify for the Champions League 😅 <a href="https://t.co/X0CxTlDlHP">pic.twitter.com/X0CxTlDlHP</a>— Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1396510396064968708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Chelsea clinch Champions League spot despite defeat

Chilwell gets one back - his shot crossed the line as Emi Martinez did his best to claw it away. And best of all, Spurs have equalised at Leicester.

GOAL: Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea

Jorginho gives away a cheap penalty and Anwar El Ghazi converts from the penalty spot. As things stand, the Blues are fifth and missing out on the Champions League.

GOAL: Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea

Bertrand Traore has scored for Aston Villa, scuffing his shot into the Chelsea net via that bar from a corner.

GOAL: Aston Villa 1-0 Chelsea

Thomas Tuchel believes that N'Golo Kante will be ready to take the field for next weekend's Champions League final against Manchester City. "I think he will join us on Wednesday training to be ready for Saturday. I think he would not have had the chance even if it was the last match today, it simply was two or three days too early," the Chelsea boss explained to&nbsp;Sky Sports ahead of Sunday's Premier League meeting with Aston Villa.

Tuchel offers Kante fitness update

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">N'Golo Kante isn't in the squad after coming off with a pre-injury. It is hoped that he makes the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UCLfinal</a> still. Havertz and Christensen make the bench after a spell out injured. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AVLCHE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AVLCHE</a>— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) <a href="https://twitter.com/NizaarKinsella/status/1396466605278863370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Kante a Champions League doubt?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Team news is in! 📝<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AVLCHE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AVLCHE</a> <a href="https://t.co/bi1fw0wEfi">pic.twitter.com/bi1fw0wEfi</a> — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/1396466058362490883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Kovacic back as Chelsea reveal Palace starting XI

Villarreal winger&nbsp;Samuel Chukwueze is looking to make a transfer to the Premier League this summer. Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all been linked with him and are top contenders to land him, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.caughtoffside.com/2021/05/23/chukwueze-transfer-boost-for-liverpool-man-utd-chelsea/" target="_blank">Caught Offside</a>. He has already made contact with some teams in the Premier League over a move.

Chelsea target Chukwueze in contact with Premier League clubs

Chelsea have identified Aurelien Tchouameni and Julian Weigl as alternatives to Declan Rice. The Blues have made the West Ham midfielder one of their top priorities for the summer, but face great competition for him. Metro&nbsp;reports they will consider Monaco youngster&nbsp;Tchouameni and Benfica's Weigl as backup options.

Chelsea eye Tchouameni and Weigl as Rice alternatives

Edouard Mendy has reflected on his arduous journey to reach football's top level. The French goalkeeper had to take the long way to the elite level, having been released from a team in the third tier in France and facing a spell of unemployment before he finally earned his big break. Now he is playing in the Premier League with Chelsea and preparing for a Champions League final, thanks to some luck and a lot of hard work. "I feel lucky now to be at a really positive point in my career and playing for a club where I have the opportunity to win trophies but what has happened is about more than luck," he told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9608093/Chelsea-Edouard-Mendy-reveals-amazing-journey-obscurity-brink-Champions-League-glory.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail</a>. "I have worked really, really hard throughout that period to have achieved what I have achieved so far to make that career jump. This final is the reward for that hard work."

Champions League final is my reward for hard work - Mendy

<center> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 'We will give everything.' 💪 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AVLCHE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AVLCHE</a> — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/1396383171831336963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Tuchel: Chelsea will give everything to win

Graeme Souness has noticed an increase in aggression and intensity at Chelsea since Thomas Tuchel took charge, but the former Liverpool star does not believe they German coach has done anything magical. The Blues have reached the Champions League final and can secure a top-four finish against Aston Villa on Sunday and the ex-coach believes Tuchel deserves some credit. He wrote in <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pep-guardiola-beware-winning-title-at-a-canter-is-no-preparation-for-a-champions-league-final-sbz3k56x2" target="_blank">The Sunday Times</a>: "I do not buy that Chelsea have been transformed by the tactical wizardry of Thomas Tuchel, but they are playing with more intensity and aggression, and move up and down the pitch as a unit better. He is getting more out of players all across the pitch because he is used to being around big players from his previous job at Paris Saint-Germain."

Chelsea haven't been transformed by Tuchel wizardry - Souness

Chelsea could be deducted points for failing to control their players against Leicester in midweek. A brawl between the two teams broke out during the Premier League clash and <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chelsea-points-deduction-leicester-brawl-24165676" target="_blank">The Mirror</a>&nbsp;claims that as repeat offenders over the years, the Blues face a hefty punishment.

Chelsea face points deduction

Christian Pulisic is pleased with the way Chelsea have moved on from their FA Cup final defeat to Leicester. The Blues can still seal a top-four finish in the Premier League and the Champions League trophy this season and Pulisic is feeling optimistic.&nbsp; "It is a lot of games but we’re used to it, we’ve been doing this for months now,"&nbsp;he said. "Obviously it was a disappointing result in the FA Cup but I’m really happy we could put things in our own hands in the Premier League. So today we go out and we need a good win and we move on from there. We have it all left to play for this season and hopefully we can do well."

Pulisic: Chelsea have it all to play for

Andreas Christensen could be back in action for Chelsea on Sunday. The Dane has missed his side's last three matches due to a hamstring injury, but has been able to train with his team-mates this week. "Andreas Christensen will be in the squad. He did full training today and yesterday without any problems," Tuchel said. "So he will be back."

Christensen to return for Premier League finale

Thomas Tuchel hopes to use Sunday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa to gain a boost for the upcoming Champions League final. Chelsea are looking to secure three points to finish in the top four before they take on Manchester City in the European decider. Instead of resting his players, Tuchel hopes they can build some momentum with a strong performance on Sunday. "Yes, in the sense that we want them [Chelsea's best players] in the final and don’t want any injuries," he said. "You can also overthink this. Who to leave out? Who needs a rest? You don’t know if they can pick up that top momentum again. That can be a problem. So if you ask me, I prefer to keep going until the very end. "I think doing that is an ­advantage going into the ­Champions League final. You have fought constantly and you don’t want to lose the rhythm."

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Chelsea news, transfers & rumours: Blues clinch Champions League spot despite defeat | Goal.com South Africa

Goal brings you all the latest news and transfer reports from Chelsea and our Blues correspondent Nizaar Kinsella