Thomas Tuchel said ‘as long as Chelsea have enough shirts and a bus’ they will keep on fighting as the German coach showed the first public signs of solidarity since the UK government sanctioned owner Roman Abramovich.
On a day when Abramovich was named alongside other oligarchs on the UK’s sanctions list following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Tuchel came out to stress he is ‘still happy’ as his own future as manager came into sharp focus.
After defeating Norwich 3-1, thanks to goals from Trevoh Chalobah, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz, the focus returned to the difficulties facing he and his players at such an unpredictable juncture.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Tuchel said: ‘Let’s see if it stays like this. If it does, I don’t know.
‘We take it day by day. I didn’t see that coming yesterday and I don’t know what is coming tomorrow.
‘Everybody can be very sure that we focus on us, to keep the attitude and the mentality right on the training ground and within the team.
‘So far we can trust each other and this will not change. As long as we have enough shirts and a bus to drive to the games we will be there and will compete hard.’
Sportsmail understands that Chelsea may not finish the season as they operate under a strict government license that is largely unworkable for one of Europe’s biggest teams.
Asked if nerves took hold before facing Norwich, Tuchel was honest in admitting they had.
‘It would be a lie if I said we had no doubts but I also had a lot of trust,’ he said.
‘In difficult circumstances we produced a lot of results and good performances so we can trust in our mentality and the culture in the club. We allowed ourselves to focus on the football.’
Thomas Tuchel has looked to quell talk of him leaving Chelsea amid their ownership crisis
Russian owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned leaving him unable to sell Chelsea
Tuchel is adamant he is ‘still happy’ at Chelsea but Manchester United are being mooted as an alternative landing spot.
Jamie Carragher is urging United to look into poaching Tuchel from Chelsea with the Blues’ future mired in uncertainty.
But ahead of Thursday night’s game away to Norwich, Tuchel spoke of being ‘happy’ to still be Chelsea’s manager.
‘I am still happy to be here and still happy to be manager of a strong team,’ he told BBC Sport.
‘I know there is a lot of noise around. I don’t have another answer for you. Relief would mean we struggle with all the information and news out there.
‘It is a big change from yesterday to today. At the moment it seems on the football side it is almost protected.
‘I feel privileged to have the chance to be involved in games, coaching and football that I love.’
Afterwards, Tuchel added to Sky Sports: ‘It is big news. It is huge and has a huge impact of course so it is the subject of the talks.
‘Maybe on a day like this you would talk about the Champions League games last night but nobody talks about this. So it nice to enter a schedule before a match as it helps to focus as we’re used to it.
‘We cannot influence it so we allowed ourselves to enjoy it. We have the privilege to play and sometimes it’s good to sweat it out. We tried to work hard to get the focus out.
“I would love to talk about sport but of course I understand you have a lot of questions. We are also an entertainment so that’s why it is like this.’
Jamie Carragher (right) insists Manchester United should try to poach Tuchel (left) from Chelsea after the west London club was plunged into crisis on Thursday morning
A special licence allows the European champions to continue playing all of their fixtures – including at Carrow Road against Norwich on Thursday night – due to its status as a ‘significant cultural asset’, but only ‘existing ticket holders’ – including fans with season tickets – will be allowed to attend games.
Tuchel’s future has been questioned given contract rebels Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen look likely to leave without the prospect of replacements being brought in and the German may found himself hamstrung with keeping the European champions competitive.
For Carragher, while Manchester United have problems of their own, now is the chance to go and poach the FIFA Coach of the Year.
‘Manchester United have been presented with the ideal opportunity to recruit the manager who should be their number one target: Thomas Tuchel,’ Carragher wrote in his Telegraph column.
The future of the Blues has been left up in the air with club activities severely limited
‘Given the events at Chelsea, United’s decision to wait until the end of the season presents them with a choice no-one could have foreseen. One of the best managers in the world – the current FIFA coach of the year – must be top of their list.
‘Tuchel, like everyone else at Stamford Bridge, will have no idea what the future holds at his current club. No-one can offer him any assurances about how the squad will look at the start of next season given the club’s sale is on hold.
‘No manager wants to be working amid such a background of uncertainty. If he gets the chance to leave for a club of United’s stature, he must take it.
‘United can offer him the security and backing every top coach craves. Yes, it will seem a predatory move – taking advantage of Chelsea’s crisis – but from United and Tuchel’s perspective the more you consider it, the more of a no-brainer it is.’
Rival coaches will sympathise with the impossible situation facing Tuchel as the most public-facing of the senior figures at the club.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reserved judgement on the sanctions imposed on Chelsea owner Abramovich but did offer his sympathises to Tuchel and his players.
Chelsea’s matchday store was shut today after the government announced sanctions that include banning it from selling any merchandise
The City boss is no stranger to being in a position of tackling off-field issues in public and Chelsea’s season is now dominated by Abramovich’s suspension on doing business in the UK.
The Blues have been banned from selling tickets and merchandise, slapped with a transfer ban and limited to a £20,000 spend on away travel.
Guardiola spoke just hours after the Government’s announcement and refused to be drawn on any impact the developments may have on the Premier League.
He said: ‘I don’t have an opinion sorry. I saw headlines but I don’t know exactly what happened. Give me a few more days to understand exactly what has happened.
‘I don’t know what is going to happen. It’s an uncomfortable position for the players and for Thomas Tuchel. I feel sorry for them because they are there to do their jobs.’
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