Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel hailed Raheem Sterling for his match-winning display against Leicester City that made sure the Blues bounced back after defeat to Leeds United last time out.

Tuchel, in the stands due to a touchline ban, saw his side endure a difficult first half at Stamford Bridge, in which Conor Gallagher was sent off after 27 minutes for two bookable offences.

But Chelsea responded following half-time, and Sterling's first goal for the club came shortly after the restart with the aid of a deflection off Daniel Amartey.

Sterling soon turned in Reece James' low cross for his second, and goal proved decisive as Tuchel's men clung on despite a Harvey Barnes riposte.

"It was necessary because we need him to score," Tuchel said after Chelsea's 2-1 win. "It's what he does, and he will score.

"I could feel he was not happy because he wants to score more and have more chances.

"We played today in a more aggressive shape, but then we were one man down, so we needed him to step up, which he did. The goals were crucial today because they gave us the belief."

Tuchel was critical of Gallagher, sent off in only his fourth Premier League outing for Chelsea, but pointed out others were also to blame for the challenge on Barnes that saw him dismissed.

"Today he is responsible for what he did, and he knows it was a huge mistake," Tuchel said. "We spoke briefly after the game, and things like this happen.

"It's not purely his fault alone because it was a set-piece for us and it's sloppy how we take set-pieces at the moment.

"We lack belief and precision, so it’s not good enough. We give chances away, we are sloppy in the coverage and bad in decision-making, so we have to stop and improve immediately.

"We are on it with the team, so I don't know why it happened again. It's a very bad decision for Conor, so of course he's upset, because it almost kills a whole football match."

Thomas Tuchel believes Chelsea must consider N'Golo Kante's poor injury record when they discuss a new contract with the France midfielder.

Kante has been crucial to Premier League, Champions League and Europa League wins since arriving at Chelsea in 2016, earning a reputation as one of the world's finest midfield enforcers.

But the 2018 World Cup winner has been beset by injury woes in recent seasons, and was ruled out for "several weeks" after suffering a hamstring injury ahead of last week's 3-0 defeat at Leeds United.

Kante made at least 34 Premier League starts in each of his first three seasons with Chelsea, but has failed to start more than 24 games in each of his last three full campaigns.

With the 31-year-old having entered the final 12 months of his contract with the club, Tuchel acknowledges his fitness record is a long-term concern.

"You have to consider everything that is on the table and on the table is his potential, on the table is his influence, and his quality," Tuchel said ahead of Saturday's home league clash with Leicester City.

"But also on the table, of course, is his age, his salary and his injury rate. From there you build a whole picture and try to find a solution."

Chelsea have taken four points from their first three games of the Premier League season, and sorely missed Kante's defensive discipline when they were torn apart at Elland Road last time out.

And Tuchel believes the midfielder's lack of availability makes it difficult for Chelsea to maintain a genuine title bid, adding: "This is a key question.

"We try to but it's much more difficult because you see the impact he has, you see the impact in the goals that we concede, the amount of goals we score, the amount of points that we have, the amount of goals he makes.

"He makes players simply better around him. He gives something that is very unique and don't forget, he also installs confidence that you cannot measure. That's why he is a key player. 

"But for the key players, it is super important to be on the pitch and to have that impact and be in the rhythm.

"You can count the matches that he is missing, but what about the first two, three or four matches where he needs to re-find rhythm? Nobody is counting these matches, so maybe in real life it is even more than just the matches he is missing.

"He comes back for the first match from the bench and maybe a second from the bench, and then the third one still struggling with confidence and rhythm. 

"This is basically the story and, yes, we have huge hopes we can turn things around, but this was a bad start."

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel will serve a one-game touchline ban against Leicester City on Saturday, the Football Association (FA) has confirmed.

Tuchel received the ban after he clashed with Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte following a feisty 2-2 draw between the London rivals at Stamford Bridge on August 14.

The two had already rowed mid-game before Tuchel pulled Conte towards him during the post-match handshake, causing a melee that resulted in both coaches being shown a red card by referee Anthony Taylor.

Both were subsequently fined, but Conte avoided a touchline ban after the FA deemed Tuchel had initiated the altercation.

Tuchel appealed his ban, which allowed him to be on the touchline for last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Leeds United, but the FA has confirmed his appeal failed, meaning the German will be absent on Saturday.

In a statement, the FA stated: "Thomas Tuchel will be banned from the touchline for Chelsea's Premier League match against Leicester City.

"The manager admitted that his behaviour after the final whistle of the Premier League game against Tottenham on Sunday 14 August 2022 was improper.

"An independent Regulatory Commission subsequently ordered for him to be fined £35,000 and suspended from the touchline for one fixture during a hearing.

"Thomas Tuchel appealed against these sanctions, but this has been dismissed by an Appeal Board today [Friday]."

Thomas Tuchel accepts Chelsea could be left empty-handed in a late bid to bolster their squad before the transfer window closes.

The Blues are thought to be still targeting moves for Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana and Everton forward Anthony Gordon, as new owner Todd Boehly chases reinforcements.

A host of other players have been linked with Chelsea and ultimately not arrived during recent months, and head coach Tuchel is taking nothing as read.

Asked how many players Chelsea might hope to bring in before the window shuts on September 1, Tuchel said: "We have some ideas, but maybe nobody comes in.

"It's not a long window anymore, so it closes soon and the focus is on the things we can influence.

"No matter what we want, there are always several parties involved who have to agree."

Signing both Fofana and Gordon would be expected to cost Chelsea considerably more than £100million.

Fofana will not be involved on Saturday when Leicester visit Chelsea in the Premier League, with the Foxes leaving him out of their plans while uncertainty lingers about the Frenchman's future.

Tuchel is also unlikely to be particularly visible on matchday, as he is poised to serve a touchline ban. Barring a late reprieve, Tuchel will watch from the stands after being hit with a one-match ban for his spat with Tottenham's Antonio Conte following the recent 2-2 draw in the London derby.

The Chelsea boss remains aggrieved that Conte was not hit with the same punishment, despite a Football Association explanation of the punishments casting Tuchel as the instigator.

Both men were sent off after a set-to at the final whistle, and a still-smarting Tuchel said on Friday: "I can understand that I get a ban and I get a fine, but what I don't understand is the other coach does not get the same punishment."

Tuchel was presented with a list of issues on his plate, including having to pick Chelsea back up after last week's 3-0 defeat at Leeds United.

He suggested his job "sounds horrible" at the moment but said it with a smile and is optimistic Chelsea will soon be showing their best form.

All the same, he observed that his team are "in transition" and "need to improve".

It amounts to something close to a personality crisis at the moment, with Tuchel saying: "I'm not 100 per cent sure where we are, how we are, who we are."

He added: "It's not only about shouting for players. The squad was strong enough to win a match at Leeds, and by far too strong to lose 3-0."

The insipid performance has been reviewed, and Tuchel said: "We absolutely dislike to lose and as painful as it is to analyse these things and look at it again, it's necessary and we always get a response.

"These things, we don't like them, but they're maybe sometimes, in a process like this, necessary to sharpen your vision and have a clear view on things."

The Football Association (FA) imposed a one-match ban on Thomas Tuchel but not Antonio Conte because the German was deemed to have instigated their clash after Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

A thrilling Premier League contest between the two London rivals on August 14 ended with tense scenes as head coaches Tuchel and Conte engaged in a confrontation.

The pair had rowed during the match and tempers flared again after the full-time whistle as Tuchel forcefully pulled Conte back towards him as they shook hands, sparking a melee.

Referee Anthony Taylor showed both Tuchel and Conte the red card.

Tuchel explained after the game that he perceived Conte's lack of eye contact in the moment to be a show of disrespect.

The FA later announced both bosses had been fined after admitting charges of improper conduct and Tuchel was hit with a one-match touchline ban, which was suspended temporarily pending publication of the independent panel's written reasons for the sanctions.

Those reasons were published on Tuesday, with the regulatory commission making clear its assessment that Tuchel was to blame for the spat.

Within the document, the FA panel said: "It was quite clearly TT [Tuchel] who instigated the confrontation between himself and AC [Conte] by choosing to grip AC's hand and jolt him back after AC had passed him by.

"Had TT not gripped AC's hand the confrontation between the two and the subsequent melee that followed would not have occurred.

"TT gripping AC's hand for the reason he gave (AC did not look him in the eye) was simply not justifiable; cursory handshakes are a common occurrence at the end of highly charged football matches and there exists no obligation for one person to look the other in the eye whilst shaking hands.

"TT telling AC to look him in the eyes whilst gripping his hand and not allowing AC to move away was a highly provocative act; AC was unwillingly pulled, literally, into the confrontation with TT.

"AC did react aggressively to TT's actions but the commission did not consider him to have hugely over-reacted given the circumstances.

"Whilst certain aspects of AC's behaviour could be considered as being improper, indeed he admitted as much, the commission considered TT to be largely culpable for the incident and unanimously felt that this ought to be clearly and definitively reflected in the level of sanction imposed on TT and AC."

Tuchel's ban remains subject to appeal.

Thomas Tuchel has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association (FA) over comments he made about referee Anthony Taylor in the aftermath of Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

Chelsea were denied a London derby win by Harry Kane's 96th-minute equaliser in their first home game of the Premier League season on August 14, leaving Tuchel fuming over a series of perceived errors from Taylor.

Tuchel claimed neither of Tottenham's goals should have stood, insisting Richarlison blocked Edouard Mendy's line of sight from an offside position when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg first levelled, before Cristian Romero pulled Marc Cucurella's hair in the build-up to Kane's late header.

The Chelsea boss then claimed "it would be better" if Taylor no longer officiated his team's games, adding: "I can assure you the whole dressing room of us, every single person, thinks that."

It was reported last week that the FA was investigating those comments, and a spokesperson for English football's governing body confirmed Tuchel's charge on Monday.

"Thomas Tuchel has been charged with a break of FA rule E3 in relation to comments that he made after Chelsea FC's Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday 14 August 2022," a statement read.

"It is alleged that the manager's comments in his post-match press conference constitute improper conduct as contrary to FA rule E3.1, they imply bias and/or question the integrity of the match referee, and/or bring the game into disrepute."

Tuchel, who has until Thursday to respond to the allegations, has now been charged with improper conduct twice in the last week, with both instances relating to the thrilling draw against Spurs.

Both he and opposite number Antonio Conte were issued red cards after becoming involved in a touchline fracas at full-time, with the German subsequently handed a suspended one-match touchline ban. 

Chelsea have collected four points from their first three games of the new season and host Leicester City in their next Premier League outing on Saturday.

Thomas Tuchel acknowledged Edouard Mendy's "huge" error cost Chelsea dearly after the 10-man Blues slipped to a demoralising 3-0 loss at Leeds United.

Mendy inexplicably allowed Brenden Aaronson to steal possession on the edge of the six-yard box and poke Leeds into a 33rd-minute lead.

Further goals from Rodrigo and Jack Harrison helped the hosts claim their first win over Chelsea since December 2002.

Kalidou Koulibaly was then sent off after picking up a second booking as Chelsea's miserable outing drew to a close. It was the defender's sixth league dismissal since the start of the 2017-18 season – more than any other player in the top five European leagues.

But it was Mendy's dismal mistake which put Chelsea on the back foot, and Tuchel did not hide his frustration with the Senegal goalkeeper after the match.

Asked whether he would discuss the incident with Mendy, Tuchel said: "He knows himself. With these kinds of mistakes, I don't think we need to speak a lot.

"He knows himself that this was a mistake and honestly, this has nothing to do with protection or no protection.

"Everybody in the world sees the mistake, it's a huge mistake in a crucial time of the match. It does not help and he's the one that is the most disappointed because it cost us a lot today."

Speaking to Sky Sports, former Manchester City and Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given was equally critical of Mendy's decision-making, saying: "He just has a really poor first touch and his head's a bit scrambled at that point. Worst case, kick it out for a corner, just don't do what you do.

"The only thing I would say in Edouard Mendy's defence, not too many Chelsea defenders have run into a position to receive the ball from him.

"But it's still a terrible mistake from Mendy, he knows he has to clear his lines. It's a poor, poor goal to give away."

The defeat at Elland Road represents another blow for Chelsea, who conceded a last-gasp equaliser against London rivals Tottenham in their previous match.

Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana has been strongly linked with the Blues as Tuchel bids to strengthen his defence, but the Chelsea boss insists his existing squad should be performing better.

"We need to wait. The transfer period is still open. It gets later and later and we need to focus on what we have and what we can do," Tuchel said.

"We can obviously play at a high level, but we lost track when there was no need. We were not forced to lose track. Everything was going well.

"We can win with this team in Leeds, everything was going well and we had goalscoring opportunities. It went the other way and I think it was more our fault than anyone else's credit."

While a defensive addition remains an aim, Tuchel was dismissive when asked whether Chelsea could target a new midfielder, responding: "Another midfielder? We have Jorginho, N'Golo Kante, we have Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher, Mateo Kovacic.

"They [Kovacic and Kane] are injured, yes, it's a problem. But they will come back. They've not disappeared."

Chelsea host Leicester City in their next Premier League game on Saturday, having claimed four points from their three outings this season.

Thomas Tuchel says Chelsea were "clearly the better team" in their 3-0 loss to Leeds, as the Blues suffered a first Premier League defeat of the season.

A howler from goalkeeper Edouard Mendy gifted Brenden Aaronson the opener for the Whites, with Rodrigo and Jack Harrison both adding further goals for a remarkable victory at Elland Road.

Chelsea struggled to exert sustained pressure upon their hosts, and a late second yellow card for Kalidou Koulibaly ensured they finished the game with 10 men.

Despite that, Tuchel believed his team to be superior across the match, instead suggesting their defeat came down to individual errors rather than a failed game-plan.

"We lost the game in the first 20 minutes where we were clearly better and had huge chances," he told BBC Sport after the contest. "[We had] a lot of touches in the box but we missed the target and did not take what we deserved.

"We were clearly the better team. They do what they do. I don't see that set-piece and goal [from Mendy's mistake] are due to the style. They are mistakes.

"If we give goals away like this that are totally unnecessary and when we are totally in charge, we cannot win football matches.

"We tried [in the] second-half and I am disappointed we lost that half as well. They made the maximum of their half-chances and we did not."

Leeds midfielder Aaronson meanwhile said victory represented a personal ambition for him as well as a club achievement, suggesting the hosts were more driven to chase victory than their outgunned visitors.

"I've dreamed about this for a long time," the American told Sky Sports. "It's a dream come true and it shows how much progress we have made.

"It shows who wanted it more. The crowd got us pumped up and everyone was driven."

Fellow goalscorer Harrison added: "We conducted a really good tactical plan from Jesse and we knew how important it was to come out strong and that set the tone from there.

"Credit to the tactics and production from the team as well. We set the tone today and have to aim for this performance every week. I know it's difficult but if we have something to aim for that's the motivation for us."

A howler from Edouard Mendy helped Leeds United stun Chelsea as the hosts seized a 3-0 victory in the Premier League at Elland Road.

The Blues goalkeeper put his side on the back foot when he allowed Brenden Aaronson to dispossess him inside his six-yard area midway through the first half for a simple tap in.

Further goals for Rodrigo – who nabbed his fourth of the season – and Jack Harrison cemented a famous win for Jesse Marsch's men, who claimed a first triumph over their London rivals for almost two decades.

Thomas Tuchel – in the dugout despite his red card in last week's London derby draw with Tottenham – will be left to wonder just how his side were so expertly unravelled under sunny skies in West Yorkshire.

Amid a high-energy start that saw the hosts hassle their visitors on and off the ball, Raheem Sterling thought he had curled an opener in just shy of the quarter-hour mark, only for the assistant referee's flag to rule him offside.

That disallowed finish would come back to bite the Blues just beyond the half-hour when Mendy's decision to dally with a backpass saw him pay dearly as Aaronson darted in to rob the Senegal international and roll the ball into the net.

Just four minutes later, Leeds had Elland Road rocking further as they doubled their tally with Rodrigo's header, the Spaniard powering home from Jack Harrison's free-kick after Sterling had committed a foul just outside the box.

Chelsea resisted changes, and briefly it appeared as if Tuchel's men could force a comeback, but when Harrison finished off Rodrigo's knockdown with a quarter of the game to go, the result was sealed.

It was to get worse for the visitors, who ended the match a man down after Kalidou Koulibaly was shown a second yellow card for dragging down Joe Gelhardt, and Chelsea ultimately skulked from the field in the shadow of a famous Leeds win.

What does it mean? Leeds earn first win over Blues in almost two decades

The last time the Whites defeated Chelsea it was through goals from Jonathan Woodgate and a 16-year-old James Milner, when they emerged as 2-0 victors in December 2002.

A long absence from the top-flight has restricted the number of encounters between the two, of course, but for Leeds, this result – and the manner in which they achieved it – might rank as their best result since they returned to the Premier League.

Rodrigo continues remarkable run

Since his arrival in what had been a club-record deal from Valencia, it has been a somewhat frustrating two seasons for Rodrigo at Elland Road, with just 13 goals in 62 games before this term.

But he has started this new campaign like a man possessed, with four goals in the first three games, making him only the fourth player to achieve the feat in the top-flight for the club.

Koulibaly discipline deepens Chelsea woes

The late dismissal of Tuchel's big defensive purchase of the transfer window is a blow for the Blues, but hardly a surprising one.

Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Koulibaly has been sent off six times in Serie A and the Premier League combined, more than any other player in the top five European leagues.

Key Opta facts

- Tuchel took charge of his 60th Premier League match today; Chelsea conceded just 17 goals in their first 30 games under the German, but have shipped exactly twice as many in the last 30 (34).

- Chelsea found themselves behind at half time in a Premier League game for the first time since their final match of the 2020-21 season against Aston Villa (a 2-1 loss). They had gone 40 successive matches in the competition without trailing at the break before today.

- Aaronson's opener for Leeds was the first time an American player has scored under an American manager (Marsch) in Premier League history.

- Rodrigo became just the fourth Leeds player to score in their first three top-flight matches in a season, after Arthur Hydes in 1933-34, Mick Jones in 1968-69 and Patrick Bamford in 2020-21.

- Leeds pair Rodrigo and Harrison have combined for four Premier League goals this season, already more than any other duo for the club last term.

What comes next?

Leeds remain at home for an EFL Cup clash against Barnsley on Wednesday, while Chelsea host Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday.

A howler from Edouard Mendy helped Leeds United stun Chelsea as the hosts seized a 3-0 victory in the Premier League at Elland Road.

The Blues goalkeeper put his side on the back foot when he allowed Brenden Aaronson to dispossess him inside his six-yard area midway through the first half for a simple tap in.

Further goals for Rodrigo – who nabbed his fourth of the season – and Jack Harrison cemented a famous win for Jesse Marsch's men, who claimed a first triumph over their London rivals for almost two decades.

Thomas Tuchel – in the dugout despite his red card in last week's London derby draw with Tottenham – will be left to wonder just how his side were so expertly unravelled under sunny skies in West Yorkshire.

Amid a high-energy start that saw the hosts hassle their visitors on and off the ball, Raheem Sterling thought he had curled an opener in just shy of the quarter-hour mark, only for the assistant referee's flag to rule him offside.

That disallowed finish would come back to bite the Blues just beyond the half-hour when Mendy's decision to dally with a backpass saw him pay dearly as Aaronson darted in to rob the Senegal international and roll the ball into the net.

Just four minutes later, Leeds had Elland Road rocking further as they doubled their tally with Rodrigo's header, the Spaniard powering home from Jack Harrison's free-kick after Sterling had committed a foul just outside the box.

Chelsea resisted changes, and briefly it appeared as if Tuchel's men could force a comeback, but when Harrison finished off Rodrigo's knockdown with a quarter of the game to go, the result was sealed.

It was to get worse for the visitors, who ended the match a man down after Kalidou Koulibaly was shown a second yellow card for dragging down Joe Gelhardt, and Chelsea ultimately skulked from the field in the shadow of a famous Leeds win.

Thomas Tuchel has confirmed he is in talks with Chelsea over extending his contract at Stamford Bridge.

The 48-year-old succeeded Frank Lampard as Chelsea head coach in January 2021 on an initial 18-month basis.

Tuchel then penned a two-year extension to that deal in June last year, less than a week on from guiding the Blues to Champions League glory.

Former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss Tuchel is now discussing fresh terms to stay on in west London beyond the end of next season.

"There are talks," Tuchel told reporters ahead of Sunday's Premier League meeting with Leeds United. 

"I think given the situation where we come from, and where we are in the middle of the transfer period, it is better if I focus on my team and on sports and on being competitive.

"My people talk to the owners and take care of everything else. You know how glad I am to be here and how much I like it. So it's a good thing."

Tuchel was this week fined £35,000 and given a one-match touchline ban after being charged for his confrontation with Antonio Conte in last week's 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

While Tuchel accepts the punishment, which has been temporarily suspended, the German reiterated that he would prefer Anthony Taylor not to referee Chelsea games in future.

Chelsea have won 17, lost seven and drawn 11 of their 35 matches officiated by Taylor, who was in the middle for the ill-tempered London derby in which Conte was also sent off.

"I think it is more than just a feeling I have - there are some statistics that underline that we struggle to get the same results with him refereeing," Tuchel said.

"Again, we never attacked or questioned his integrity or honour. It was about this game and I think it was in an acceptable way without being personal or falling out of line.

"I will accept [any decisions] but maybe it would be better [for Taylor not to referee Chelsea again].

"I want to make it very clear I did not attack his integrity. I said very, very early that the two decisions were decisions for the VAR.

"I was not happy for the way he whistles the game but this is okay. But this is what happens. That will go to the FA and they will decide."

Chelsea make the trip to Leeds looking to bounce back from their draw with Tottenham, which followed a 1-0 win at Everton on the opening weekend of the campaign.

Since Tuchel’s first away Premier League match in February 2021, only Manchester City (23) have won more away games than the Blues (19).

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has been given a one-match touchline ban and fined, while Tottenham boss Antonio Conte has been hit in the pocket for their clash in Sunday's fiery London derby.

The two went head-to-head at the side of the pitch before tempers flared once again at the final whistle following a strong handshake, after Harry Kane's last-gasp goal snatched a 2-2 Premier League draw for Spurs at Stamford Bridge.

Both were shown a red card by referee Anthony Taylor and the Football Association on Friday revealed the sanctions imposed, with Tuchel's ban suspended temporarily and the punishment subject to appeal.

In a statement, the FA said: "An independent Regulatory Commission has today ordered that Thomas Tuchel be fined £35,000 and banned from the touchline for one match, and Antonio Conte be fined £15,000 after they respectively breached FA Rule E3.

"Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte admitted that their behaviour after the final whistle of the Premier League game between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday 14 August 2022 was improper, and both managers requested a paper hearing.

"These sanctions are subject to appeal, and Thomas Tuchel's one match touchline ban has been suspended temporarily pending the independent Regulatory Commission's written reasons for its decision that will be made available in due course."

Tuchel had played down the significance of the incident in a press conference on Friday, stating he hoped the FA would not take any further action.

"I was laughing in the dressing room. It was the heat of the match and for me it was not that bad. It was a handshake and a bit too long and heavy a handshake. I admit it, but no harm was done at least from my side," he said.

"The thing would have been very, very quickly ended if there were not 20 people around us that made it look much worse than it was. Of course I laughed about myself.

"I hope they [the FA] do not make more out of it. It's not that big a deal for me. I have nothing but the biggest respect for him and this will not change because of that incident."

Chelsea travel to face Leeds United on Sunday, while Tottenham host Wolves a day prior.

Thomas Tuchel admitted footage of his spat with Antonio Conte was hilarious – but insisted the refereeing blunder that cost Chelsea a win over Tottenham remains no laughing matter.

It was last Sunday when emotions ran so high in the London derby that both bosses were red-carded after the final whistle.

Touchline tensions had been soaring and came to a head when Tuchel refused to immediately let go of Conte in the post-match handshake, affronted that the Italian had avoided eye contact.

This sparked further words being said and several backroom staff from both teams having to separate the two, before referee Anthony Taylor showed both men his red card.

Football Association charges have followed for Tuchel and Conte, but Tuchel accepts there was an element of comedy about the whole episode, which has led to a string of internet memes.

"Of course we laugh, it's very important to laugh about yourselves," said Chelsea's German head coach.

"I was laughing in the dressing room. It was the heat of the match and for me it was not that bad. It was a handshake and a bit too long and heavy a handshake. I admit it, but no harm was done at least from my side.

"The thing would have been very, very quickly ended if there were not 20 people around us that made it look much worse than it was. Of course I laughed about myself.

"I hope they [the FA] do not make more out of it. It's not that big a deal for me. I have nothing but the biggest respect for him and this will not change because of that incident."

What still firmly rankles with Tuchel is how Taylor and video assistant referee Mike Dean failed to call a foul on Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella shortly before Tottenham snatched a last-gasp equaliser to force a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham defender Cristian Romero appeared to pull Cucurella to the ground by his hair, and there was a pause in play while VAR official Dean took time to review the incident, but he decided against sending Taylor to the pitchside monitor and play was restarted.

Dean has since apologised for his error, but Tuchel said on Friday: "If the mistake is that big and that obvious, what's the point of not admitting it if the whole world sees it.

"I struggle a little to be fully impressed by the statement, I have to say. It is so clear and obvious, I still cannot understand how a referee cannot make the decision that was the right decision."

Tuchel later clarified to stress that he considered it was specifically Dean who "got it totally wrong" by not calling Taylor to take a closer look, and called for greater transparency in the decision-making process.

"Maybe they could explain the decisions on the field to everybody," Tuchel said.

Thomas Tuchel warned Chelsea cannot afford to trim their squad before the transfer window closes after losing hamstring injury victim N'Golo Kante for "several weeks".

The head coach would be prepared to consider player exits if he can bring in top-class replacements, but until then the likes of Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi will be staying.

That was the firm message from the Blues boss on Friday, two days out from his team's trip to Leeds United in the Premier League.

He said Kante's injury, sustained in last week's thrilling 2-2 draw with Tottenham, was "quite serious".

"We're talking about weeks, which is not good news," Tuchel said. "We're disappointed and sad because N'Golo was super important and super fit, and he will be out for several weeks."

Armando Broja and Mateo Kovacic are also out of contention this weekend, and while it has been mooted that Chelsea are open to loaning out some first-team players, Tuchel is adamant that should not happen at the moment. Pulisic has been linked with Manchester United.

"We will not comment on our players and will not encourage our players to go out in the moment," Tuchel said

"If I put the chin a little bit up and look at the schedule which is coming, with Southampton during the week and two Champions League matches ... it's coming, it's in front of the door, we will need a lot of quality players to be competitive."

Tuchel's outlook will change if Chelsea can corner their targets and bring them to Stamford Bridge.

"We work together about the reinforcements, but it's never easy," said the German. "It's not that we can wish for something and it will happen. As long as the transfer window is open, there are always possibilities."

Having loaned out Romelu Lukaku to Inter, Chelsea are lacking a proven striker in the number nine mould. The likes of Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz could do a job there, and may have to on a regular basis if Chelsea cannot sign a targetman.

"I believe we can compete with this group, but to be very honest it's one thing to compete once a week and another thing to compete 60 times in a year and three times in a week," Tuchel said.

"For this you need a strong group, and you need players who challenge for their place and their minutes and push each other to the highest level.

"We are very happy about the performance, and we are still active in the market, and we know what can be possible, but if not we will make the very best out of it.

"If we are looking, we're looking for high quality, and we're looking for personality that suits our group and suits our club, and nothing has changed."

Chelsea won 3-0 at Elland Road last season but surprisingly have never won consecutive away league games at Leeds. They were last beaten by the Yorkshire side in December 2002, when a 2-0 loss at Leeds was incurred after an own goal from William Gallas and a strike from a 16-year-old James Milner

Chelsea hoped Broja would be making an early-season impact after returning from his loan to Southampton, but the 20-year-old Albanian striker is on the injured list for now.

"We know enough about him, but it's one thing to perform on a loan and another to perform in a club like Chelsea," Tuchel said. "He's injured again, and that does not help his own ambitions and does not help us in having a clear view of what he can give us.

"Given the size of the squad at the moment, I would say it's a huge chance for Armando to have an impact at Chelsea. I understand this is his clear ambition, his clear goal to make this step here. He has our support, but unfortunately it's the second time he's injured in a short period of time, and he's held back for that reason."

Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte believes he should be allowed on the touchline against Wolves after being charged by the FA for his behaviour against Chelsea.

The charge came after he was involved in multiple incidents with Chelsea counterpart Thomas Tuchel during and after a thrilling 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

An altercation after the final whistle led to both Tuchel and Conte receiving red cards, and the subsequent FA charges mean it is unclear whether both will be allowed on the sidelines for their respective Premier League fixtures this upcoming weekend.

Conte though believes he should be allowed in the dugout against Wolves, though, telling reporters during his pre-match press conference: "I hope so. It's right, it's right to stay in my place.

"Then I repeat for sure after this type of situation you can learn a lot but at the same time I think from my situation I was good to keep calm and [I] didn't have an excessive reaction."

Spurs sit fourth in the Premier League with four points from their opening two games, but will be without key defender Cristian Romero for Saturday's meeting with Wolves due to injury.

"About Cristian, he had a little problem during the game against Chelsea in the final part of the game," Conte said.

"It's a little problem and after the game he started to feel a bit of pain in his adductor [muscle]. We checked him.

"The player wanted to give availability but in this situation we have a lot of games to play, it would be stupid to take risk. For this reason he is not available for Wolves."

Spurs have beefed up their squad in this transfer window with Richarlison, Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma, Clement Lenglet, Fraser Forster and Djed Spence arriving.

This week, Destiny Udogie signed from Udinese, though the defender will remain with the Serie A club for the rest of the 2022-23 season.

Tottenham's focus will now be on trimming their squad, with Tanguy Ndombele set to complete a switch to Napoli, while Giovani Lo Celso has rejoined Villarreal on loan, though Conte did not rule out the possibility of further additions.

He added: "If someone goes away then for sure another player has to come. Especially if some players want to go and play regularly and it's difficult to keep them here."