Tuchel Would Prefer Not to Play Liverpool

Despite a stunning injury-time strike for the ages from Mehdi Taremi, Chelsea managed to hang on and move past Porto into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Real Madrid or Liverpool FC await. In his post-game presser, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel dropped this nugget of info:

In general I like not to play against teams from your same league in the Champions League as it gives more of a feeling of a European competition but that is the only thing. The game is far from over but I will watch it for sure.

Everything is possible. Liverpool are very strong at home so we take what we get. It is a good situation for us.

Indeed, as we know all too well from previous encounters with Chelsea during the Rafa years, or 2018’s quarter finals against Manchester City... European ties with familiar foes just take on a different feel. Sometimes things get extra cagey, or both teams throw caution to the wind. Either way, Liverpool need another herculean effort to win this two-legged tie against Madrid. If they succeed, Chelsea awaits.