Thomas Tuchel says it would be better if Anthony Taylor no longer takes charge of Chelsea games, saying his players are worried when Taylor is the man incharge.
The German coach was speaking after an eventful London derby with Tottenham which finished 2-2 through a last minute equaliser from Harry Kane.
The drama was not over at the final whistle, with both Tuchel and Spurs manager Antonio Conte being shown red cards after squaring up and exchanging angry words.
This is not what Tuchel was fuming about, though, believing that neither Tottenham goals should have stood. He was angry about a foul and an offside in the build-up to the first half, while he was enraged by Romero pulling Cucurella’s hair before Kane’s header.
Chelsea fans have been left frustrated with Taylor in the past, with complaints against Spurs and Arsenal over the years, and when asked about fans taking issue with this referee, Tuchel says his players are also not happy with him.
‘Not only the fans,’ said Tuchel. ‘You know the players, they know what’s going on when they are on the pitch. They know it.’
Asked it his players are worried when Taylor is in charge of their games, the manager said: ‘Yeah, of course.’
Tuchel blamed VAR rather than the referee for missing the hair-pull on Cucurella, but also said it would be better when asked if Taylor should be removed from Chelsea matches in future.
‘Maybe it would be better,’ said Tuchel. ‘But honestly, we also have VAR to help make the right decision. Since when can players be pulled by hair? Since when is that [not a foul]? If he does not see it, I do not blame him. I didn’t see it. But we have people at VAR who check this. Then you see it and how can this not be a free-kick and a red card?
‘This doesn’t even had to do with the referee in this case. If he does not see something, that’s why we have people to check if there is a decisive error going on.’
In one final dig at the official, Tuchel was told he may now miss Chelsea’s game against Leeds and said: ‘So…good. I cannot coach but the referee can whistle the next game.’
