Thomas Tuchel Names Chelsea's Best Player During Embarrassing Defeat vs Arsenal

Thomas Tuchel Names Chelsea's Best Player During Embarrassing Defeat vs Arsenal

Fred Kennedy
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
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  • Thomas Tuchel has declared Kalidou Koulibaly Chelsea's best player on the pitch during their defeat against Arsenal
  • Koulibaly sealed a summer move to Stamford Bridge from Napoli, with Tuchel handing him his debut against the Gunners
  • However, the centre-back's debut was one to forget as his side suffered a 4-0 humiliating loss against their arch-rivals
  • Gabriel Jesus and Marting Odegaard were both on target in the first half, with Bukayo Saka and Albert Lokonga netting two more goals in the second half

Thomas Tuchel rated Kalidou Koulibaly's debut for Chelsea after the Senegalese made his bow for the Premier League giants during his side's defeat against Arsenal in a Florida Cup match.

The Blues were humiliated 4-0 by the Gunners at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando barely days after they lost to minnows Charlotte FC in post-match penalties.

Kalidou Koulibaly, Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel, Arsenal, Orlando, Arsenal, Florida Cup.
Kalidou Koulibaly in action during the Florida Cup match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Darren Walsh.
Source: Getty Images

A rejuvenated Arsenal side fired from all angles from the blow of the whistle, with new boy, Gabriel Jesus, scoring the opener inside 15 minutes of action.

Martin Odegaard doubled the advantage in the 36th minute before Bukayo Saka made it 3-0 in the 66th minute.

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Albert Sambi Lokonga also got his name on the scoresheet at stoppage time to help Arsenal condemn the west Londoners to a comprehensive defeat.

Thomas Tuchel names Kalidou Koulibaly the best player on the pitch

Despite Chelsea's defeat, Tuchel still saw the brighter side of the match as he declared summer signing Kalidou Koulibaly the best player for the Blues on the pitch.

"He was the best player on the pitch for us," Tuchel told Football.London after he was asked to rate Koulibaly's debut for Chelsea.

Koulibaly moved to Stamford Bridge this summer to make his much-awaited switch to the Premier League.

The Senegalese is expected to form part of Chelsea's new-look backline after the departures of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

Tuchel says Chelsea not at the level as Man City, Liverpool

Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported Thomas Tuchel was the first to admit his Chelsea side should not be in the conversation with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.

The Blues were thrashed 4-0 by a resurgent Arsenal in a preseason game in Orlando.

Speaking after the game, Tuchel admitted he was disappointed but also refused to fully blame his side as he subtly suggested Arsenal were more settled in terms of transfer sagas.

Authors
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Fred Kennedy
Fred Kennedy has a Bachelor's degree in journalism (Daystar University), currently working as a Sports Editor. He has more than five years of experience in digital journalism.
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Stamford BridgeThomas Tuchel