“Thank you for ruining my evening!” With a smile, Thomas Tuchel answered a question from an English journalist who told him that UEFA had decided that the London club would play their next Champions League quarter-final behind closed doors. Not even the time to savor the qualification on Lille soil that the coach of the European champions was reminded of the extra-sporting context which concerns his club since the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Chelsea, whose activity is now strictly regulated after the British sanctions targeting its Russian owner Roman Abramovich, “will adapt” to this new situation and “will get there”, promised Tuchel after qualifying for the quarterfinals of the League of champions.
A team closer than ever
We have to believe that the English club manages to weld together in the difficulty. Since the start of their extra-sporting problems, Chelsea have not lost a match. On the contrary, players, staff and employees seem more than ever united by everything that falls on their heads.
“I am really proud to coach this team. We all support each other with the 80 people in Cobham (the club’s training centre). Our mentality is to always give the best of ourselves even if we live in uncertain times, ”recognizes the former PSG coach.
Same story with Marcos Alonso. “We are focused on football and our football. We are one with the staff and the team. We continue to win victories and we hope that it will be resolved quickly and that we will return to a normal situation, ”assures the defender. While waiting for better days, Chelsea have never looked so strong. As if adversity gave wings to the Blues.