Thomas Tuchel tells Chelsea to recreate 'addictive' Champions League win

Blues begin their title defence Tuesday against Russia's Zenit Saint Petersburg

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates victory after saving the last Villarreal penalty during the Uefa Super Cup Final at Windsor Park on August 11, 2021 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Chelsea's players during the penalty shoot-out.

Villarreal's players during the penalty shoot-out.

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates victory after saving the last Villarreal penalty.

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates with the Uefa Super Cup trophy.

Reece James, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho of Chelsea celebrate after winning the Uefa Super Cup Final.

Christian Pulisic of Chelsea kisses the trophy.

Chelsea players lift the trophy.

Edouard Mendy of Chelsea with the trophy.

Reece James, Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea with the Uefa Super Cup.

A Chelsea fan watches on during the Uefa Super Cup 2021 match against Villarreal.

Villarreal fans at Windsor Park.

Kai Havertz and Timo Werner of Chelsea pose with the Uefa Super Cup Trophy.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trevoh Chalobah and Tammy Abraham of Chelsea celebrate.

Jorginho of Chelsea celebrates scoring his penalty in the shoot-out.

Kepa Arrizabalaga of Chelsea celebrates with teammates after making the match-winning save during the penalty shoot-out in the Uefa Super Cup 2021 match against Villarreal.

Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea celebrates with the Uefa Super Cup with Chelsea fans.

Thiago Silva and Mason Mount of Chelsea celebrate.

The Uefa Super Cup trophy.

Emerson Palmieri of Chelsea poses for a photo with the Uefa Super Cup.

Cesar Azpilicueta of Chelsea holds the Uefa Super Cup.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has urged his players to recreate the "addictive" feeling of winning the Champions League as the Blues begin their title defence.

The Blues begin their Champions League campaign at home to Zenit Saint Petersburg on Tuesday after making a bright start to the Premier League season, winning three and drawing one of their first four games.

Tuchel made a huge impact after only arriving at the club in January to transform Chelsea from a side struggling in mid-table in the Premier League into Champions League winners.

The German had reached the final the year before with Paris Saint-Germain, but said he underestimated the difference going one step further would have on his squad.

"I reached a final with my team the season before and I had the feeling that it was a big achievement but to not do the last step is a huge difference when you realise what it means when you do it," Tuchel said at his pre-match press conference.

"The most important thing is not to look back but to keep the hunger because that feeling creates a hunger for more and more.

"It's addictive. This game is about winning because winning changes your feeling, it changes your work atmosphere in the building and gives you natural confidence."

Chelsea are favourites to progress from Group H against Russian champions Zenit, Swedish title holders Malmo and a Juventus side struggling without Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, Tuchel warned against basking in the glory of their 1-0 win over Manchester City in last season's final in Porto.

"It's absolutely necessary to forget it and start from scratch, to show this mentality again. This is what I demand from myself and from everybody else around, that we don't change in terms of hunger," he said.

"We will have this experience together forever and we can create a bond out of it but it's about looking ahead in sport and taking up the challenges which are coming and the next one is tomorrow."

N'Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic will miss the Zenit clash due to injury, but Ben Chilwell could feature for his first minutes since May.

Chilwell was part of England's Euro 2020 squad but did not feature and had to spend 10 days of the tournament in self-isolation.

Tuchel said the left-back returned to pre-season "mentally tired" but is now "in the race now" to challenge Marcos Alonso for a place in the side.