Thomas Tuchel certain that rest is the key to ending Chelsea’s slide after draw with Brighton

Thomas Tuchel will give his Chelsea players two days off in a bid to arrest their alarming mid-season slump.

A 1-1 draw at Brighton made it one win in their last seven Premier League games and suddenly ramps up the pressure on their bid to secure Champions League qualification.

The Blues face top-four rivals Tottenham in what feels like a crunch clash on Sunday, with Tuchel insisting his players need a rest “so, so badly”.

The German added: “You can say it is an excuse or whatever, but look at our schedule.

“We arrived at Man City with a Carabao Cup game in between, they did not. We’ve played since November as the team that plays and plays and plays and we need to recharge the batteries.

“We need to disconnect. I will give the players two days off and we will prepare.

“We are happy we have at least four days [until facing Spurs]. Look at our last week and you know what we are talking about. We have three away games in seven days. It is also about travelling and not sleeping.

“We can explain why performances look like this in an away game in the middle of January away at Brighton.”

Hakim Ziyech fired Chelsea ahead in the first-half, but Adam Webster equalised after the break. Tuchel refused to criticise his players after watching yet more points slip away.

“There are some obstacles to overcome,” he said. “I refuse to be angry. It is not about the ambition.

“We were a bit lucky to be 1-0 ahead - take advantage and score the second one. It is not the moment to be too harsh.”