says Kalidou Koulibaly endured some ‘difficult moments’ in ’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Sunday despite the centre-back’s goalscoring display.
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The west Londoners twice forfeited the lead against Spurs in a match that was overshadowed by repeated touchline scuffles between and Tuchel.
Chelsea were aggrieved with the refereeing throughout, feeling there was a foul and an offside before Tottenham’s first equaliser while Cristian Romero tugged Marc Cucurella’s hair shortly before headed home a stoppage-time leveller.
Koulibaly made his home debut and looked impressive, opening the scoring with a brilliant volley after being left completely unmarked from a first-half corner.
The Senegal international earned plenty of plaudits from Chelsea fans for his performance, keeping one of the Premier League’s most prolific front threes relatively quiet – at least until Kane’s late goal.
While Tuchel was largely happy with his new recruit’s display – and that of the whole team – he did feel Koulibaly struggled in the early stages of the match.
Asked how pleased he was with Koulibaly’s performance, Tuchel told Chelsea TV: ‘I was happy with everybody and Kali had some difficult and dangerous moments in the beginning, in the build-up, because I think the pitch was a bit dry.
‘But after that, in general, he’s a top, top player and you see it.’
Tuchel was delighted with his side’s performance, with Chelsea dominating their opponents for large periods of the match and pinning them back inside their own half, but felt their hard work was robbed by bad refereeing.
Asked if he felt Chelsea had deserved all three points, Tuchel replied: ‘Yes, but it happens. It happens during the life a football coach and a team.
‘In football, and as players, you sometimes get caught in the last minute and we will hopefully have it in the season that we will steal some points and be decisive. This can happen.
‘But it can’t happen when we have VAR at this kind of level. It can’t happen that goals are allowed that are simply irregular goals. This is the frustration and it’s unacceptable.
‘I think we know what we did, the players know the input they put into the game mentally and physically. We were so sharp, fully on, and played a brilliant match.
‘What a step up for us from the first game against Everton. I’m disappointed for the players that they don’t get the reward. It’s actually down to incredible decisions.’
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