Thomas Tuchel says Chelsea are only interested in their own results after seeing Premier League title rivals drop points this weekend.
Tuchel’s side registered a fourth-straight league win with a 3-0 victory at managerless Newcastle United to extend their lead at the top as Liverpool were held by Brighton and Manchester City slipped to a shock home defeat to Crystal Palace.
Reece James' thumping second-half double and a late Jorginho penalty ensured all three points for Chelsea to send the Blues three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table.
“There has never been a moment where we celebrate results on the other pitches," Tuchel said.
“First of all, it’s far too early and second of all we want to focus on ourselves instead of others. What goes around comes around, we don’t do this.
“There’s a long way to go. I’m absolutely happy today with our performance off the ball. This was the key for me from the first minute to the last, the effort and discipline.”
James broke the deadlock in the 65th minute when he lashed the ball home from a tight angle and then he slammed in a rebound after substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi’s shot was blocked by Ciaran Clark.
Newcastle v Chelsea ratings
-
NEWCASTLE UNITED RATINGS: Karl Darlow – 5. Nearly caught out by a closing Havertz after lingering on the ball but lucky to escape. Impossible to keep out James’ first. Unbalanced after going low to save the initial shot, Darlow could do nothing about James’ second. Getty -
Javier Manquillo – 6. Did well to lose Chilwell on the wing in the opening stages but it was often the other way round. Had his hands full with Chilwell and Hudson-Odoi. Getty -
Emil Krafth – 6. Grabbed an assist in his second start in his last game and kept his place in an unchanged Newcastle squad. Lucky to escape a booking after manhandling Hudson-Odoi. Reuters -
Jamaal Lascelles – 7, Leading by example and a brick wall in Newcastle’s defence. Good block from the centre-back to stop Havertz bouncing. Stayed with N’Golo Kante to force the ball out. Deflected Ziyech’s shot on to the woodwork just after half time. Booked. AP -
Ciaran Clark – 7. Important clearance to stop Ziyech in the opening minutes. Supplied a great cross for Lascelles to get a header on. Necessary header to keep Ziyech from meeting Chilwell’s cross into the box. Getty -
Matt Ritchie – 6. A reliable name on the starting line-ups and supplied a dangerous free-kick into the box to see Wilson’s header go high and wide. Booked. Getty -
Allan Saint-Maximin – 5. Played in Fraser for Newcastle’s opening chance but otherwise found it hard to get into the game. Had to force himself into it. An outlet Newcastle failed to use. Reuters -
Isaac Hayden – 6. On risky ground after being booked for a high, sliding tackle on Christensen just 18 minutes in. Had a few good tussles but taken off to not risk a second yellow. AP -
Sean Longstaff – 6. Faced Chelsea on his 24th birthday and saw his effort from the edge of the box blocked in the second half but ultimately a birthday he won’t want to remember too much of. Getty -
Ryan Fraser – 6. Had to be patient this season for game time but looked to be making a point since getting his chance. Had an early shot in the opening minute with his shot just going wide. Subbed after Chelsea’s opener. Getty -
Callum Wilson – 6. Terrific hold up play to give Newcastle their first shot from Fraser. Would have wanted to do better with Ritchie’s freekick in the first half. Barged Mendy off the ball in the final remaining minutes. PA -
SUBS: Miguel Almiron (for Hayden 67’) – 6. Saw his shot in the final 10 minutes calmly claimed by Mendy. AFP -
Joe Willock (for Fraser 66’) – 5. Just couldn’t find a way into the game with Chelsea leading the charge from the moment he stepped on the pitch. Jonjo Shelvey (Longstaff 82’) – N/A. Back after serving a one match suspension against Crystal Palace but it was a hard job to do when the team was 3-0 down. Getty -
CHELSEA RATINGS: Eduardo Mendy – 7. Able to sit back and relax for the first half, with only seven touches of the ball at half-time. Had no problem with finding Jorginho even under pressure before half time. AFP -
Andreas Christensen – 7. Benched against Norwich but back into the team in place of Chalobah. Centre of the action and usually the victim of tackles in the first half but comfortable when needed in defence. PA -
Thiago Silva – 7. Rested midweek for the cup. Headed away a ball into the box from Manquillo with ease but consistent and reliable as ever in defence. AFP -
Antonio Rudiger – 7. Once again, taking opponents by surprise with a charging run but overcooked his pass near the 40-minute mark and couldn’t convert a shot from a tight angle in the second half. Getty -
Reece James – 9. Lively from the first minute. Linked up with Jorginho to run on to a lovely pass by the Italian but Darlow claimed with ease. A bulletproof goal beat Darlow at the far post. Produced a near replica goal for Chelsea’s second. AFP -
N’golo Kante – 7. Played his 200th Premier League game. Storming run on the counter attack to thread the ball to Ziyech, though the resulting shot from Havertz was blocked. Booked. AFP -
Jorginho – 7. Beautiful pass to James in the opening stages. Would have been a lovely assist on his record if Ziyech had been on side. Got on the scoresheet through a penalty, his first goal of the season. PA -
Ben Chilwell – 7. Impossible man to drop on current form. Made the left wing a huge threat for Chelsea, linking with Hudson-Odoi. Getty -
Hakim Ziyech – 7. Could have scored his first of the season after a lovely pass by Jorginho but was deemed offside. Saw his free-kick before half time fly wide. Hit a curling effort first time but Darlow was equal to it. Lively but unlucky not to score. Booked. AFP -
Callum Hudson-Odoi – 7, With Lukaku and Werner injured, Hudson-Odoi kept his place in the squad. Brilliant in the build up of the goal and made it tough for Manquillo. Getty -
Kai Havertz – 6. Leading the line with injuries to Lukaku and Werner, should have scored just after the 30th minute with a tap in. Had a shot blocked on the counter attack. Just not his day. Getty -
SUBS: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (for Kante 64’) – 6. Mere seconds after coming on, he had a chance on goal and saw the clearance of the header land at James’ feet for the goal. Getty -
Ross Barkley (for Ziyech 64’) – 6. Weaved around Newcastle into the box before James’ second. Lovely through ball to Havertz, which prompted the penalty. Saul Niguez (for Hudson-Odoi 88’) – N/A. Made his first away appearance for Chelsea after seeing his time limited since his loan from Atletico Madrid. AP
Jorginho sealed the points from the penalty spot after Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow’s trip on Kai Havertz.
Tuchel added: “It’s a complex game and Reece cannot score if Callum does not do the dribbling and Callum cannot do the dribbling if Chilly [Ben Chilwell] isn’t opening the space.
“Our strikers are sometimes sacrificing to create chances and spaces for the others.
“We certainly don’t need to exercise shooting because Reece shoots like a horse.”
