FA deny that Chelsea 'could face a points deduction'

The FA have denied reports that Chelsea could face a points deduction after being charged with failing to control their players.

The governing body threw the book at the Blues this week after their players and staff were involved in a 20-man brawl with Leicester City during stoppage time of their crucial 2-1 victory, with the Foxes also charged for their part in Tuesday night's meeting.

Players and staff clashed on the touchline at Stamford Bridge following a poor challenge by Leicester's Ricardo Pereira on Ben Chilwell. Both Chelsea and Leicester have until Tuesday to respond to the charge.

According to the Mirror, the Blues were warned in July 2016 that they faced a points deduction after appealing against a £375,000 fine following a similar brawl in a match with Tottenham two months earlier.

The report also claimed it is the seventh time in as many years the Blues have been in the FA dock.

In the last five years they have been charged twice more for failing to control their players, but escaped with warnings about future conduct.

However, a Sportsmail source within the FA claimed the threat of a points deduction in relation to Tuesday night's brawl had no basis of reality and was not true.

Chelsea have been contacted by Sportsmail for comment.

Thomas Tuchel's side head into the final day of the season in third knowing victory over Aston Villa would secure them a top four place, but they are only one point ahead of Liverpool and Leicester - the latter residing in a Europa League spot.

The Blues could also qualify for next season's Champions League by winning the competition's final at the end of the month when they take on Manchester City

However, Tuchel admits the pressure is still on his players to deliver victory at Villa Park on Sunday.

'You get absolutely focused, absolutely sharp when the kind of pressure that we have now is on,' Tuchel said.

'These last two matches for us – against Leicester and now Aston Villa – even if the ­pressure was on before, they ARE ­different. The situation is so clear now.

'It brings you to the edge. It brings you out of bed early. You think twice and become sharp. That's what I demand of myself – to deliver under pressure.'