Thomas Tuchel has 'no reason to doubt' Chelsea players ahead of season run-in

Blues face three pivotal games this month, including the Champions League final

Thomas Tuchel has led Chelsea to the FA Cup and Champions League finals and up to fourth in the Premier League since arriving at the club in January. Reuters

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel insists he has "no reason to doubt" his players after consecutive defeats put their hopes of a successful season under increased pressure.

Chelsea have been revived since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in January, leading the club from 10th to fourth in the Premier League and into the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League.

However, a loss to Leicester City at Wembley on Saturday has seen the first attempt at silverware come and go, while a home loss to Arsenal - combined with wins for Liverpool - means the Blues only hold a one-point advantage over the Reds in the race for the top four with two games remaining.

Chelsea have the chance to gain a measure of revenge against third-placed Leicester when they meet in the league on Tuesday. A win will move Tuchel's side above the Foxes, but a draw or defeat will open the door for Liverpool, who play Burnley on Wednesday, to replace them in fourth.

Chelsea then face Aston Villa in their final game of the season on Sunday before taking on league champions Manchester City in the Champions League final on May 29.

With the pressure on, Tuchel has said he has full faith in his players and has urged them to embrace the challenge.

"This is a strong group," Tuchel told the Chelsea website. "There is no reason to doubt these players, who have done so well to get into the top four from 10th place, to reach the FA Cup final and to be in the final of the Champions League.

"We are strong enough to handle these situations and these are the challenges that we face.

"It's not easy, but it is fun, and there are a lot of teams chasing us and our situation."

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Chelsea v Leicester: FA Cup final ratings

CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6. Swept cleverly to clear following a rapid Leicester break early in the second half. Could only wave despairingly at Tielemans’ inch-perfect shot (no match photo available). Getty Images

Cesar Azpilicueta – 5. Played outside and ahead of James, but posed little of the attacking threat his younger colleague normally does. Wasted his best chances to cross – and Leicester scored from the ensuing attack. Reuters

Thiago Silva – 8. Showed the silky touch of a No 10, rather than a centre half, to set up a chance that Werner flicked wide. Thought he had set up the equaliser for Chilwell, only for VAR to rule it was offside. AFP

Antonio Rudiger – 6. Underemployed in defence, which gave him the chance to maraud forward, but he was too often wasteful when he did so. PA

Reece James – 7. He might have been detailed to combat Vardy’s pace in defence, but he still managed to contribute to the forward effort at times. Reuters

N’Golo Kante – 9. Against the side he made his name with, he was a class apart from all of his present colleagues. Entirely ubiquitous from start to finish. Reuters

Jorginho – 6. Chelsea led the possession stats, which was much down to the Italian, but his use of it was seldom threatening. Replaced by Havertz as Chelsea chased the game. Reuters

Marcos Alonso – 5. A nonentity in a defensive capacity, and a tame header was his only contribution of note going forward. Subbed off after his side went behind. Reuters

Hakim Ziyech – 5. A pale shadow of his usual self, as he rarely threatened anything of any significance before making way for Pulisic. AP

Mason Mount – 7. Prominent as Chelsea dominated possession early on, and showed some eye-catching, deft touches. Denied a leveller by Schmeichel’s brilliance. Reuters

Timo Werner – 7. The most threatening of Chelsea’s forwards, either side of being booked for a clumsy challenge on Thomas. AP

SUBS: Christian Pulisic – 6. Introduced in the second half as the Blues chased the game, but had little impact in the time he was on. AP

Ben Chilwell – 7. Greeted with a cacophony of boos by the fans of his former club. Nearly avenged the jeers when he headed onto a post, and had the ball in the goal – only to be denied by VAR. Reuters

Kai Havertz – NA. No chance to influence the game after he was introduced with 15 minutes left. EPA

Callum Hudson-Odoi – NA. Barely spotted after he was brought on with Chelsea a goal behind and time ticking away. AFP

Olivier Giroud – NA. Given his pedigree and his aerial prowess, it was a surprise his introduction to the fray was left to the 82nd minute (no match photo available). AFP

LEICESTER CITY RATINGS: Kasper Schmeichel – 9. Maintained his side’s lead with a brilliant fingertip save from a header by his former teammate Chilwell. His later save from Mount’s drive was even better. PA

Wesley Fofana – 9. His crunching early tackle on Alonso roused the Leicester support. Saw yellow later in the half for a late challenge, but made a brilliant block to thwart Werner straight after. AFP

Jonny Evans – 6. Cut a distraught figure as he was forced to limp from the field injured after half an hour, with the Foxes faithful singing his name. Reuters

Caglar Soyuncu – 7. Headed over when well placed from a Tielemans free kick. Seemed disorientated by Mount’s movement early on, but managed to keep his head. PA

Timothy Castagne – 8. Beat Alonso for pace and found Vardy with a cross, but was shunted into the back three because of Evans’ injury shortly after. He coped admirably. AP

Youri Tielemans – 9.5. One of the great FA Cup final goals capped an outstanding display. The Belgian’s fine array of passing meant Leicester were a threat even if their possession count was lower. AFP

Wilfred Ndidi – 7. Maybe he was overshadowed in his personal battle with the man he replaced in Leicester’s engine room – Kante – but he still did plenty enough to help the collective effort. PA

Luke Thomas – 8. What a week for the 19-year-old fill back. A goal at Old Trafford, then an FA Cup- winner’s medal. Earned himself a headache for his troubles. Reuters

Ayoze Perez – 6. Got through plenty of running, but most of it was tracking the opposition rather than constructing anything of note in the attacking third. AP

Jamie Vardy – 8. The beating heart of his club. Might not have threatened much himself, but vitally meant James had little forward impact. Roused the crowd, and started the party. Getty Images

Kelechi Iheanacho – 6. Attempted one probing through ball in the first half, but was mostly starved of possession by Rudiger. Looked emotionally spent when he was replaced by Maddison. AFP

SUBS: Marc Albrighton – 6. On for the injured Evans. Played his side into trouble with a loose pass that put Werner through on goal. PA

James Maddison – 7. Perhaps did not control possession in quite the way his manager would have wanted when he put him on, but did not shirk the running. EPA

Wes Morgan – NA. His unexpected late cameo might have ended in a nightmare were it not for the intervention of VAR. As it was, it was another entry in his personal fairytale. PA

Hamza Choudhury – NA. Given eight minutes at the end when it was all hands to the pump for Leicester. EPA

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Central to Chelsea's resurgence, and to their hopes of a strong finish to the season, is midfielder Mason Mount.

The England international has been in fine form this season and was denied an equaliser in the FA Cup final by a spectacular save from Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Tuchel reiterated Mount's importance to his team and expects him to play a major role in the final few games.

"We tried to give Mason a little break recently because he gave a lot in the Real Madrid games and he has been so decisive for us," Tuchel said.

"In the cup final, perhaps he could have played with a little more composure but don’t forget, if it wasn’t for an incredible save from Schmeichel, then he would have scored an equaliser.

"It wasn’t to be but Mason is always a dangerous player for us and we should be careful that we don’t over-expect from Mason.

"He is a key player for us in every match, he’s always so decisive and that will not change for the next three matches. He is absolutely key for us."