Thomas Tuchel given ‘interesting’ Karim Benzema verdict ahead of Chelsea vs Real Madrid

West Ham United's Scottish manager David Moyes (L) greets Chelsea's German head coach Thomas Tuchel ahead of the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Chelsea at The London Stadium, in east London on December 4, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

 

Chelsea News: Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema could be the thorn in Thomas Tuchel’s side come Wednesday night, and Thomas Tuchel has admitted the striker has been underrated previously

Former Man City and Aston Villa defender and now pundit Joleon Lescott has admitted that Karim Benzema’s availability for Real Madrid’s trip to Chelsea in the Champions League makes the tie more difficult for Thomas Tuchel.

The Frenchmen comes into this Champions League quarter-final full of confidence after netting twice at the weekend to help Los Blancos maintain their lead at the top of the La Liga standings with their fortuitous 2-1 win over Celta Vigo. Those two goals mean that the 34-year-old veteran, who is still up there as one of the best strikers in Europe, has a total of 47 goal contributions in all competitions this term. A tally that most of the Blues attack could only dream of. No wonder manager Thomas Tuchel singled out the former Les Bleus international as one of four very ‘impressive’ players that his side need to be aware of.