Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has praised Sheffield United for their energy levels after the Blues narrowly came out on top against the Blades last night.

Jorginho’s goal from the penalty spot was enough to seal a 2-1 win for the away side and, after the game, Tuchel admitted it was a tough match to negotiate, comparing it to a cup tie:

“You arrive in February in Sheffield and you know what’s waiting for you. It feels like a cup game when you arrive here, against a team full of energy. They’re a very direct and physical team, so you have to accept that not all moments in this game are easy. The first 10/15 minutes were difficult to overcome because they started with a lot of courage and we were lucky with the penalty.”

The match yesterday evening pretty much summed up Sheffield United’s season. They have been on the end of narrow defeats on too many occasions this campaign, despite always being in the game.

Manager Chris Wilder would have been very pleased by the effort his team showed on the night but coming away with no points, once again, will undoubtedly be massively frustrating.

The Blades are now 12 points off safety, having played a game more than Burnley who currently sit 17th in the table. It’s looking less and less likely that the great escape could happen.