Alan Shearer slams Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel for what he said after Aston Villa win

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been heavily criticised after he criticised the Premier League for not having the five substitutions rule in place following his side’s win against Aston Villa.

The Blues picked up the all-important three points on Boxing Day away to Aston Villa after it took Romelu Lukaku’s introduction to turn the game fully on its head.

Man City had won earlier in the day with their 6-3 thriller against Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes, but this victory for Tuchel’s side kept the gap at just six points, with Chelsea now level with Liverpool in second place having played one game more than Jurgen Klopp’s side.

This came about because Liverpool’s fixture in the aftermath of Christmas was postponed due to a Covid outbreak in the Leeds United squad.

Aside from the Lukaku praise that followed this contest, most of the focus post-match was on player welfare as Tuchel saw more injuries to his squad with N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva the latest victims.

“Five changes were invented because of Covid. Now we’re in the middle of Covid, and some teams are having games postponed, and others aren’t. Three changes is a big disadvantage,” Tuchel raised in a concerned manner post-Aston Villa.

He then added on the potential solution to this clear ‘disadvantage’: “Of course [five substitutions should be allowed]. Zero chance [they will]. We are the only league that plays in winter, which I love, but we’re not protecting the players.

“All other leagues have five changes. Then we compete against them in the Champions League. It’s a bit frustrating. It will not stop.

“Brighton will play a super physical game; then we have two games against Spurs, who are out of Europe and fully focused on the league and Carabao Cup.”

These comments came under scrutiny from Shearer, who wasn’t holding back when responding to Tuchel after what should have been a happy day for all associated with the club.