Thomas Tuchel questioned the commitment of his Chelsea players and admitted they were "simply not good enough" in their heavy friendly defeat to Arsenal on Saturday.
The Blues were thumped 4-0 by Premier League rivals Arsenal at Camping World Stadium in Orlando in the final game of their pre-season tour of the United States.
Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Albert Sambi Lokonga were all on target for the Gunners, who looked far sharper in front of the 64,000 watching spectators.
And with the new season just two weeks away, Chelsea head coach Tuchel is worried about what he saw from his side.
"I think we deserved to lose – which is fair enough – because we were simply not good enough," he said.
"We were absolutely not competitive. The worrying part is the level of commitment, physically and mentally, was not the same – it was far higher for Arsenal than us.
"We can argue they played with I think their strongest line-up; they've had now together several weeks and for more than one year.
"They've strengthened their line-up, played the same structure, and this is the line-up they'll try to start Premier League games.
"It was not our strongest line-up and this is part of an explanation, but only a little part. The other part is worrying."
First-team regulars Edouard Mendy, Reece James, Jorginho and Mason Mount started the game, while new signings Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly also featured.
Chelsea were also beaten on penalties by MLS side Charlotte FC earlier in the week after a 1-1 draw in normal time, which followed on from a 2-1 win against Club America.
The Blues round off their pre-season programme away at Udinese next week before facing Everton in their opening Premier League game on August 6.
Tuchel has made clear he wants to further strengthen his squad before that trip to Goodison Park, with Jules Kounde reportedly close to joining from Sevilla.
"The analysing of the season does not change because of this game," Tuchel said when asked about the need to bring in more new signings.
"Unfortunately, it proved my point and the last week proves my point. I would prefer to not be right and I did everything to prove myself wrong.
"But at the moment I feel I was right when I look at the last season and at the parts of the game where we struggled and how we struggled.
"We got sanctioned and players left us, we know that some players are trying to leave us, and this is where it is.
"We've got two quality players – that is no doubt – but we are not competitive like this and unfortunately we could see it today."
Chelsea finished third in the Premier League last season, a distant 18 points behind runners-up Liverpool and 19 behind champions Manchester City.
Tuchel, who was not prepared to use fatigue as an excuse for the Arsenal loss, accepts his side cannot realistically think about making up the gap on the top two.
"At the moment, given the last two weeks, given our last week and given the game today we should not mention the two teams in front of us," he said.
"We got absolutely beaten by a team that does not play Champions League next season, that is behind us. And it seems at the moment far ahead of us."
Tuchel added: "I am a huge fan of a strong pre-season for everything: for the atmosphere, for the feeling, for the performance, for the belief.
"We need to find solutions. We fly home now and then we have one-and-a-half days only and Tuesday afternoon we need to present solutions.
"We need to present actions. We, me, the coaching staff, together with our team to stand up again and find a way through this because it hurts at the moment."
Ballon d'Or nominee Bonmatí 'like Zidane', says Pauleta
Aitana Bonmati's similarities to Zinedine Zidane are part of the qualities that should win her the upcoming Ballon d'Or, according to former Portugal international Pauleta.
Bonmati's incredible form in the 2022-23 season helped Barcelona to a magnificent treble, recording a competition-leading 12 goal involvements as the Blaugrana claimed Champions League glory, before she also played a major role in Australia and New Zealand as her national team Spain won the Women's World Cup for the first time.
Bonmati was given the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, and the midfielder is the favourite to collect more individual silverware in the near future having been named among the nominees to pick up the Ballon d'Or, the winner of which will be announced at a ceremony in Paris in late October.
Pauleta fully expects Bonmati to be named the 2022-23 season's best player, pointing to Zidane, the winner of the men's Ballon d'Or in 1998, as a star Bonmati shares traits with.
When asked who she thought should claim the trophy, Pauleta told Stats Perform at the Thinking Football Summit: "I say Aitana [Bonmati] because she had an incredible season with Barcelona and Spain.
"I played against her in the Champions League. I felt something about [Zinedine] Zidane in her game. She's aggressive but with the ball, she's so sweet. She always puts the ball where it needs to be.
"The game is better when she is playing. She has this quality that makes her play beautifully."
Among the other nominees competing with Bonmati is Mary Earps, the Manchester United and England goalkeeper who won the Golden Glove at the World Cup as the tournament's best shot-stopper, saving a penalty from Bonmati's Spain team-mate Jennifer Hermoso in the final.
Prior to her heroics with the Lionesses, Earps had helped United to a strong Women's Super League campaign as well as the club's first-ever FA Cup final.
Fellow goalkeeper Patricia Morais believes Earps should become the first Ballon d'or winner from their position, saying: "I think it will be the England goalkeeper [Earps], for sure. I have no doubt that she will win.
"She's a world-class goalkeeper. She deserves it because I like her style, how she plays football and I identify myself with her."
Scotland’s Caroline Weir to have surgery after suffering ACL injury
Real Madrid and Scotland midfielder Caroline Weir has suffered an ACL injury and will undergo surgery.
Weir sustained the injury playing for Scotland in the Nations League against Belgium on Tuesday night when stretching to challenge for the ball.
After trying to play on for a couple of minutes, the midfielder was eventually forced off the field 20 minutes in.
Belgium took the lead after half-time through Kassandra Missipo before Sophie Howard’s header in the final seconds rescued a point for Scotland.
Weir’s injury comes after fellow Scotland team-mate Emma Watson suffered the same injury on international duty earlier this week.
Real Madrid said on their website: “Following tests carried out on our player Caroline Weir by the Real Madrid Medical Services, she has been diagnosed with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. She will undergo surgery in the coming days.
“Weir suffered the injury during the national team clash between Scotland and Belgium on Tuesday.”
Rangers ease into Viaplay Cup semi-finals after hammering Livingston
Rangers secured a spot in the Viaplay Cup semi-finals after beating Livingston 4-0 at Ibrox.
A bright start was rewarded when Abdallah Sima fired them ahead just 10 minutes into the game before Ridvan Yilmaz’s brilliant solo effort in the second half doubled the lead.
Two quickfire goals in the final 10 minutes put the game to bed as Sima found the net through a deflection before Ryan Jack struck late in stoppage time.
The win took Rangers into the final four of the competition, where they will play Hearts at Hampden Park in November.
Rangers set out their intentions early and started brightly with Ben Davies having a chance in the first two minutes after flicking James Tavernier’s corner wide of the post.
They tested Shamal George in the seventh minute with some neat build-up play around the box leading to Tavernier firing a powerful shot towards goal, forcing the Livi goalkeeper to react from point-blank range and he was quickly called into action again, punching away an inswinging corner.
The hosts earned their rewards as Sima broke down the left, appearing to nudge Jamie Brandon off the ball before cutting into the box to fire into the far top corner.
Livingston were unable to find an answer as Rangers exercised their dominance throughout the half, moving the ball all over the pitch and using the right flank in particular to create chances.
Daniel MacKay made some good moves down the right wing for the visitors and on a rare break into the Rangers half Stephen Kelly had a crack from outside of the box that flew wide.
It was a warning signal for dominant Rangers as the Lions began to see more of the ball after the break.
Tavernier’s crosses were causing problems and Sima had a shot saved from close range in the 58th minute before John Lundstram fired over the bar from distance.
Livi came close to levelling with a great chance in the 61st minute as a corner was whipped in but Ayo Obileye headed just wide of the post.
Cyriel Dessers then made a great run into the middle of the box but was unable to put a shot away before Tavernier’s effort was well held by George.
Yilmaz doubled Rangers’ lead with a superb solo effort that saw him charge down the centre of the pitch from inside his own half before blasting the ball into the bottom left corner.
They continued to push and had a few half chances as Dessers headed over the bar before Sam Lammers curled an effort wide.
An energetic move stemming from the left saw the ball switched to Tavernier on the right and the captain found Lammers in the box, but good defending from the Lions forced the Dutch forward to fire over the bar.
Rangers scored in quick succession, finding the third in the 84th minute as Sima struck from a tight angle and was deflected into the net by Luiyi de Lucas.
They capped off the evening two minutes into stoppage time when Tavernier cut the ball back to Jack who blasted it into the bottom corner.
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