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Thomas Tuchel says he understands why Pep Guardiola believes that "everybody in this country supports Liverpool".
Guardiola launched an astonishing attack on Manchester City's Premier League title rivals last week after his side's 5-0 win over Newcastle.
"Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone," said Guardiola.
"Of course, because Liverpool has an incredible history in Europe, not in (the) Premier League, because they've only won one in 30 years, but it's not a problem at all."
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Chelsea boss Tuchel has now sided with Guardiola as he prepares his side to face Liverpool in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
"I'm not a Liverpool fan," said Tuchel.
"I can understand why he [Guardiola] has that feeling. In general I would say it is hard to really argue with it.
"I did not say I agree 100 per cent but I can see. There is a huge sympathy for Liverpool in the country."
Tuchel says Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who he playfully referred to as "Kloppo" ahead of the final, is an expert at gaining "sympathy" from neutral fans.
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And the Chelsea manager insists he doesn't mind if his side are seen as "the bad guys" at Wembley.
"Kloppo is the master of being the underdog," added Tuchel.
"He can talk you into being the underdog against Villarreal and against Benfica, and it's a miracle how they even draw against them.
"He does it all the time. That's part of it, where the sympathy comes. There's nothing to be jealous of; Kloppo is a fantastic guy, funny guy, one of the best coaches in the world and that's what he does.
"When he trained [Borussia] Dortmund, the whole country loved Dortmund. Now he trains Liverpool and you have the feeling the whole country loves Liverpool.
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"It's a big credit to him and this is what you deal with if you play a team against him. But it's always the fun part and so if we are the bad guys tomorrow, then no problem.
"We take that role. We don't want to have the sympathy of the country tomorrow – we want to have the trophy."
Saturday's match is a repeat of this season's Carabao Cup final, which Liverpool won after a dramatic penalty shootout in which Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga blazed the decisive spot kick over the bar.
Tuchel is hopeful of emerging as the victor this time around and believes Klopp's side have vulnerabilities that can be exploited.
"They allow chances," he said.
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"We proved it – we had big chances in the Carabao Cup final. But it's their approach. They are the team who put strikers of other teams into offside by far the most.
"They only play this high line because they always have pressure on the ball. It's very hard to exploit these spaces because you need perfect timing.
"But you can find solutions if you have a perfect day."
Topics: Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Football, Premier League, FA Cup, Thomas Tuchel, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp