MY ACCOUNT
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel promised to stay at Stamford Bridge until at least the end of the season amid ongoing uncertainty behind the scenes at the London club.
The German head coach saw his side snatch a 1-0 win against Newcastle United on Sunday thanks to a sublime 89th-minute goal from Kai Havertz.
Blues owner Roman Abramovich was one of seven Russian oligarchs to have assets frozen by the UK government on Thursday due to his native country’s military invasion of Ukraine.
Chelsea are now operating under a special sporting licence, barring them from negotiating new contracts or transfers and preventing them from making ticket or merchandise sales, although reports have suggested the government may permit a swift sale of the club.
Speaking at a media conference after Sunday’s win, Tuchel addressed his own immediate future.
“There’s no doubt I stay until the end of the season,” he said. “We just have to wait day by day because everything can change.
“There are circumstances we can’t influence, but that gives us the freedom to focus on the things we can influence.
“The focus is on the first team, our players and me. But Chelsea is much more than just the first team. It is a massive club with huge tradition and there are hundreds of staff. It’s not just the players, and it’s important we show the spirit and give them the distraction.”
The former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain coach enthusiastically celebrated the late winner on the sidelines, and was relieved to overcome a tricky game against Eddie Howe’s resurgent Magpies.
“The Kai Havertz goal was exceptional, and we had a hard time on the pitch,” Tuchel said. “They were very physical, and it was difficult to accelerate the game in the last 30 metres. It was important not to concede so that with one quality chance we could win it, and we did it.”
Tuchel was also asked about arrangements for their Champions League last-16 second leg in Lille on Wednesday.
“My last information is we have a plane and we can go by plane and come back by plane. If not, we go by train; if not, by bus; if not, I will drive a seven-seater,” he joked.
“If you asked me 30 years ago if I could join a Champions League match at the sideline, I’d say, ‘when do I need to be there and how do I need to be there?’.”
