CHELSEA suffered a THIRD consecutive FA Cup final loss to ensure they end up trophyless this season.
But they are reportedly already laying the foundations for next season in terms of the playing staff.
Thomas Tuchel’s side could have done with Inter Milan ace Ivan Perisic at Wembley, who has reportedly agreed terms with the West London outfit.
The Blues are also reported to be interested in a £42m deal for Real Madrid star Casemiro.
And Tuchel has hit out at social media trolls sending abuse to Mason Mount over his missed penalty.
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Shearer’s Werner claim
Alan Shearer believes Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel went wrong by not playing Timo Werner against Liverpool in the FA Cup fina.
“With Chelsea, Havertz is injured. But I’m surprised Werner’s not playing, because of his pace, because of the high line we know Liverpool play,” Shearer said.
“I know he gets offside a lot but it would have been a huge threat for him to be running behind.”
Tuchel explains Loftus-Cheek decision
Thomas Tuchel has revealed why he subbed Ruben Loftus-Cheek ahead of the ill-fated penalty shoot-out against Liverpool.
Loftus-Cheek had barely got involved in the action having being brought on shortly before getting subbed for Ross Barkely as penalties loomed.
And explaining his decision to do so, Tuchel said: “No, that was purely for penalties.
“Ruben has not got a good history, statistically, and Ross has so it was purely because of the penalties.”
Rudiger’s Real choice
Antonio Rudiger was so intent on a move to Real Madrid he reportedly turned down more lucrative offers from a number of European heavyweights.
Both PSG and Bayern Munich tried to snatch Rudiger from Real’s clutches by offering him more money, according to Diario AS.
And Bayern were the most keen on Rudiger after getting dumped out the Champions League by Villarreal, the report also states.
However, the chance to play for Real was too good to turn down and the defender ultimately opted for a move to the Bernabeu.
Perisic wants Juve transfer
Chelsea transfer target Ivan Perisic is reportedly eyeing a move to Juventus.
Reports have claimed that the Inter Milan star has worked out a deal with Chelsea.
But according to GetfootballnewsItaly, Perisic would prefer a move to Juve.
Salah will make final
Mo Salah will be available to play in the Champions League final despite picking up an injury on Saturday.
The winger, 29, was forced off with a groin injury 33 minutes into the FA Cup final against Chelsea.
While it looked very concerning for the Reds at the time, Salah has since confirmed that it is nothing serious.
When asked if he was okay after the game, he replied: “All good” and reassured fans that he would be available for the Champions League final against Real Madrid later this month.
Vidic names toughest opponents
Man United legend Nemanja Vidic has named the four toughest opponents he faced in the Premier League.
Peter Crouch was the first Liverpool striker Vidic bemoaned facing.
Vidic also mentioned Chelsea great Didier Drogba and his lethal combination of strength and intelligence.
Vidic’s watchlist finished with Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero and former Reds star Luis Suarez.
Vidic made the admissions to The Athletic.
Ten Hag wants Kante
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has been linked with a sensational swoop for N’Golo Kante this summer in a bid to bolster his midfield options next season.
According to The Mirror, chiefs at Manchester United, including Ten Hag, believe a swoop for Kante is a realistic proposition.
The news comes after SunSport exclusively revealed that the Blues were fearing Kante would be one of a number of players on their way out of the club.
Wright’s sympathy for Mason Mount
Ian Wright has admitted that he feels sorry for Mason Mount after the player missed a penalty in Chelsea’s FA Cup final loss to Liverpool.
Wright said: “I’m disappointed for Mason Mount because when a player misses a penalty at this level with so much on the line.
“You’ve got to feel gutted for him.”
Tuchel on Chelsea’s season
Thomas Tuchel reckons Chelsea have had a good season despite losing to cup finals to Liverpool thus far.
And he pointed to Chelsea’s success in the World Club Cup and European Super Cup as proof that the Blues are capable of challenging for trophies.
He said: “I think we have what it takes to win trophies and we proved it.
“Somebody wanted to convince me that we had a trophy-less season but we have the World Club Cup and the European Super Cup.
“We did everything to win these two matches but we have to accept that our opponents deserve also to win these matches and they did it.”
Keane’s disdain for Fabregas
Roy Keane once threatened to ‘smash Cesc Fabregas in’ when the midfielder clattered into him.
Fabregas risked Keane’s wrath after tackling the Irishman really hard when Arsenal played Man United in the FA Cup final.
Keane let Gerard Pique know just how close Fabregas was to a beating a few years later.
Fabregas recalled to The Times: “I tackled Roy Keane really hard and I felt really good about it because he was always giving me a tough time.
“A few years later, Gerard Pique [his friend from Barcelona’s La Masia academy] said to me that at half-time Keane said, ‘That Spanish friend of yours, I will smash him, he killed me.’”
Suarez praises Liverpool
Luis Suarez took the time to congratulate former club Liverpool for their FA Cup final win over Chelsea.
The Reds edged a thrilling penalty shoot-out to lift the cup.
And Suarez was full of praise for his old club.
He wrote on social media: “Congratulations to @LiverpoolFC for winning the FA Cup! YNWA.”
Alisson’s plan to stop Mendy
Alisson devised a secret plot to stop Edouard Mendy from playing mind games on Liverpool’s FA Cup Final penalty takers – by hand delivering the ball to his teammates.
The Chelsea ‘keeper has a history of interfering during penalties when helping Senegal to beat Egypt via spot-kicks in the Africa Cup of Nations final in February.
Alisson was adamant that would not happen again, and he scooped up the ball after each Chelsea kick and walked straight to his pal to give them it.
Only Sadio Mane, Mendy’s international teammate, missed a penalty for Liverpool.
Rudiger speaks on frustration
Antonio Rudiger is frustrated that he hasn’t left Chelsea with a FA Cup winner medal after yesterday’s loss to Liverpool.
Rudiger said after the game: “It’s been five years as normal with ups and downs, but with a lot of positive things,” the Germany international said.
“That’s why I’m even more frustrated because I wanted to have a different ending.”
Terry reveals FA Cup pain
John Terry revealed he was devastated after witnessing Chelsea’s FA Cup final loss.
But the Blues legend still found the time to praise Liverpool’s Luis Diaz who was the game’s Man Of The Match.
Terry said on Instagram in a message that Diaz shared: “Absolutely devastated, but you are a fantastic player my friend.”
Rudiger explains quitting reasons
Antonio Rudiger has dismissed the theory that Government sanctions are behind his decision to quit Chelsea.
The German defender is leaving for Real Madrid on a free transfer once the Premier League season finishes on Sunday week.
Strict rules imposed due to owner Roman Abramovich’s links to Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin have banned Chelsea from negotiating new contracts with existing players but Rudiger insists it was other issues which stopped him staying.
But Rudiger, who suffered FA Cup Final defeat to Liverpool on Saturday, said: “There was a chance but sanctions are not the problem. I don’t want to go too deep in things.
“At the end of the day it’s not only about one side (helping the other), it’s both sides – Chelsea have been great to me, I have been great to Chelsea.
“As always, I am very, very thankful me, my family. I became a man here. My kids were born here and everything. London and especially Chelsea will always be special to me.”
Mo Salah’s classy gesture
Mohamed Salah invited former Egypt team-mate Moamen Zakaria into the Liverpool dressing room to celebrate their FA Cup win over Chelsea.
Salah was forced to watch a large part of Saturday’s final from the sidelines after being forced off through injury.
Liverpool’s epic dressing room celebrations where shared with former Egypt star Zakaria, who has motor neurone disease, after he was invited in by Salah.
Hav some of that
Kai Havertz, was also another absentee from the squad due to a hamstring injury.
Discussing the problems afterwards, he said: “Kai did not train because of hamstring problems and we thought he would injure himself.
“We did a test on Saturday morning but it was not better.”
Tuch and go for Werner
Thomas Tuchel has revealed Timo Werner told him he did not want to play in the FA Cup Final after suffering a problem in the warm-up.
Chelsea fans were shocked as the German forward was left as an unused substitute during the penalty shootout defeat to Liverpool at Wembley.
He said: “Timo felt uncomfortable in the warm-up and said he could not play.
“A hamstring as well. We had no options.”
Lew ‘agrees 3-year Barca deal’
Robert Lewandowski has reportedly agreed a three-year contract with Barcelona.
The Pole has been linked with a move to the Nou Camp after snubbing a new deal at Bayern Munich.
He still has a year to run on his existing agreement with the Bundesliga side but they have now confirmed that the forward wants to leave them.
The Times state that Lewandowski is set to join Barcelona.
And they report that he has verbally agreed to sign a three-year contract with them.
Now all that remains is for them to thrash out a transfer fee for him.
Confirming that Lewandowski, who has scored 49 goals for the club this term, wants to go, Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic told Sky Germany: “I spoke with Lewa.
“In that discussion he informed me that he does not want to accept our offer to extend the contract and that he would like to leave the club.
“He said he wants to do something else. But our position has not changed.
“The fact is he has a contract to June 30, 2023.”
Klopp and Tuchel agree…
Managers Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel agreed Liverpool’s FA Cup final glory came down to ‘tiny margins’.
Cesar Azpilicueta and Mason Mount missed penalties as the Reds repeated their Carabao Cup shootout joy over the same opponents, this time with a 6-5 success following a goalless 120 minutes.
And Liverpool boss Klopp ‘couldn’t be prouder’ after his ‘mentality monsters’ won an ‘incredible, tense’ final.
Counterpart Tuchel claimed he was sure Chelsea would win – ‘until the final minute’.
So it’s two down, two to go, in Liverpool’s Quadruple hunt.
And skipper Jordan Henderson believes today’s triumph shows ‘attitude, personalities and incredible talent’ are their driving force.
‘Sad’ Tuchel felt sure Chelsea would win
Thomas Tuchel claims he was sure Chelsea would win the FA Cup final – right up to Liverpool’s final shootout penalty.
The Blues boss praised his ‘excellent’ side for shutting out ‘maybe the most dangerous attacking team in the world’ as the Reds triumphed 6-5 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.
And he revealed just how confident he was that they would come out on top – after Liverpool beat them the same way in February’s Carabao Cup final.
He told the Wembley press conference: “No regrets. I’m proud of the team.
“We were sure we could make life for Liverpool difficult – and we did again.
“We struggled in the first 15 minutes then we were excellent and played a goalless draw against maybe the most dangerous attacking team in the world.
“I was sure before the match and I was sure during the game we would win.
“I was sure momentum was on our side and I was sure until the very last minute and unfortunately I was not right.”
Mason’s lost all his six Wembley finals
Mason Mount missed a crucial penalty in Chelsea’s FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool, condemning himself to SIX consecutive Wembley final defeats.
The Blues academy product stepped up and missed his sudden death spot-kick in the penalty shootout, before Liverpool ace Konstantinos Tsimikas wrapped the game up.
It means the England and Chelsea ace has now lost SIX consecutive finals at Wembley in his professional career.
Mount’s bad luck at the national team’s stadium started back in 2019 during his loan spell at Derby.
The 23-year-old was playing under Frank Lampard at the time but lost to Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final. He then followed it up with back-to-back FA Cup defeats in 2020 and 2021.
Mount then suffered heartbreak with England, who were penalties away from their first major trophy since 1966, but they were toppled by Italy.
And this season, back-to-back losses to Liverpool on penalties in both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup added more insult to injury for the Chelsea fan. Mount’s bad luck is leading to some fans believing the midfielder is “cursed”. One fan said on Twitter: “Mason Mount is really cursed at Wembley.”
Trolls target ‘bottle job’ Mason
Mason Mount has been branded a “bottle job” by brutal trolls online after his FA Cup final penalty miss, writes TOM SHEEN.
The Chelsea star played the full 120 minutes as his side battled with Liverpool under the Wembley arch.
Like in February’s League Cup final, the two sides couldn’t be separated – with neither able to score in two hours of play.
The match went to penalties, with Mount not stepping up until the Blues’ seventh spot kick – after forgotten man Ross Barkley.
Cesar Azpilicueta had already missed from 12 yards, only to be bailed out by Edouard Mendy’s save from Sadio Mane.
Mount wouldn’t be so lucky, with Kostas Tsimikas tucking away the following penalty to seal a 6-5 shoot-out win for the Reds.
Social media was subsequently full of trolls criticising Mount for failing to score. One wrote: “Mason Mount’s a bottle job pass it on.”
Another asked: “Mason Mount the biggest bottle job in football?”
Pointing out his record, one fan wrote: “Mason Mount is the biggest bottle job ever 6 finals now init?” Another pointed out: “When it’s Mount he’s cursed but when it’s Kane he’s a serial bottler.”
A kinder fan pointed out: “He’s rather a blessed one @masonmount_10. How many people get such finals to play. His time will come. Even Klopp has started winning trophies.”
Klopp hails his ‘outstanding mentality monsters’
Boss Jurgen Klopp praised Liverpool’s nerves of steel as they completed a domestic shootout double over Chelsea.
Klopp told the BBC: “Outstanding, it was an incredible, intense game against Chelsea – they would have deserved it [the win] exactly the same way, like in the Carabao Cup – that’s how small the margins are.
“I couldn’t be more proud of my boys, the shift they put in, how hard they fought, early changes.
“All of these things, missing good chances, overcoming good moments from Chelsea, then having really good moments ourselves.
“Then in the penalty shootout, it was nerve-racking, my nails are gone but I really feel for Chelsea – for the second time, 120 minutes and you get nothing, that’s too hard. But for us I’m pretty happy.
“We are mentality monsters but there were mentality monsters in blue as well – it was one penalty.
“Chelsea played outstanding but in the end there must be one winner and that was us today.”
Blues lack killer Tuch
Chelsea suffered shootout heartbreak at the hands of Liverpool for the second time this season, writes JACK ROSSER.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are still on for a remarkable quadruple after both Cesar Azpilicueta and Mason Mount failed from the spot at Wembley, handing the Reds a first FA Cup under the German.
Chelsea had to ride their luck at times – recovering after a terrible start in which Luis Diaz could have scored twice.
But they had plenty of chances themselves and were too wasteful when it really mattered.
American Christian Pulisic sent good chances agonisingly wide in either half while he should have played a better ball for Marcos Alonso in the first half.
Alonso was racing through but the pass forced him into a heavy touch, allowing Alisson to save.
Pulisic was Chelsea’s most dangerous player – but fell short when it mattered most.
Boss Thomas Tuchel must shoulder some blame too. With Liverpool leaving acres of space thanks to their high line, Pulisic had showed that pace could hurt them.
Despite that, Tuchel decided to keep a confident Timo Werner on the bench throughout, instead turning to Hakim Ziyech and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to bolster the forward line.
It is desperately cruel to lose on penalties again, especially with one Chelsea legend, Azpilicueta, and another in the making, Mount, being the ones to let the Blues down.
Tuchel’s true task at Chelsea is to ensure they mix it with Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the table next season. After four draws from four games against Liverpool this season Chelsea will feel close to doing that. To make that next step, they need a killer touch at the crucial times.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
