Tuchel pleased with Chelsea reaction to beat Porto after WBA shock

SEVILLE, Spain (Reuters) - Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel praised his side for overcoming the shock of last week’s 5-2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion as they beat Porto 2-0 in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg.

 

Chelsea conceded more than double the amount of goals against struggling West Brom as in their previous 14 games under Tuchel but looked like their usual selves against Porto, winning thanks to goals from Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell.

 

“We had a lot of excellent results together, then we had a loss together and then a reaction after a loss together. That brings us closer together and increases the trust,” Tuchel told reporters.

 

“I was pretty sure (that his team would react). I saw a response immediately in the dressing room and the next day. That wasn’t a big concern. We were ready to respond. There’ll always be setbacks in sports. The biggest challenge is to bounce back.”

 

Chelsea dominated both legs of their last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid but were on the back foot for large chunks against Porto.

 

“There were many moments where we suffered. We accepted it. The circumstances are a bit different in a quarter-final. The spirit was good and it was an excellent result,” added the German, who led Paris St Germain to last year’s final.

 

“We’re very happy to go away with this result but it’s only halftime.”

 

Porto have not made it beyond the Champions League quarter-finals since last winning the competition under Jose Mourinho in 2004 but they took the game to their opponents in their home leg of the tie, which was played in Seville due to coronavirus restrictions in Portugal.

 

Coach Sergio Conceicao underlined the huge wealth gap between the two sides which saw Chelsea bring on some star names from the bench.

 

He felt, however, that his side had played better than their richer opponents.

 

“We know Chelsea’s strengths. They sent on Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud, N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva – they have different weapons. But we were superior,” he said.

 

“There are no moral victories however, what counts is the result. But we’re in the middle of the tie so let’s believe.”