Thomas
Tuchel has admitted he is "absolutely worried" about this month's
international break and says Chelsea may prevent their players from joining
their national teams.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said this week that Premier League clubs agree
that players should not be released for international matches if they must
quarantine when they return.
Chelsea currently have one player - Brazil's Thiago Silva - who could be
required to travel to a country on the UK Government's 'red list'. Silva
will have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days when he returns to England
should he be part of his country's squad.
But the Blues' first-team squad is full of international players who could
be required to fly overseas to represent their countries for the upcoming
fixtures, due to take place at the end of this month.
Anyone coming back to England from abroad must quarantine at home for 10
days. However, footballers are permitted to train and compete during this
time, and any individual can end their quarantine after five days through
the 'test to release' scheme if they pay for a private coronavirus test and
return a negative result.
Chelsea play West Brom on April 3 - just days after players are due to
return from their national teams - and Tuchel said: "I am absolutely worried
because my target is to play Premier League and if I have players in
quarantine, I cannot build the group that we want.
"But I am also sure that the club knows how to handle it and if it maybe is
the consequence that players cannot go, then this is the consequence.
"The situation is extraordinary. We have to adapt and we will do this as a
club. We will take the decisions. We are very concerned about the
situation."
Tuchel: Big fixtures are driving us on
Tuchel was speaking after Chelsea's impressive 1-0 win at Anfield on
Thursday night - a result that returned them to the top four and left
champions Liverpool lying seventh in the Premier League.
The German head coach replaced Frank Lampard in January and, as well as
remaining unbeaten in his first 10 games, has also recorded away wins
against Tottenham, Atletico Madrid and now Liverpool.
Chelsea's fixture list shows no sign of easing, with fifth-placed Everton
visiting Stamford Bridge on Monday night as the race for the top four
reaches its final stages.
The Toffees have won their last three matches, and Tuchel said: "It's the
next situation where there is one point difference only between the teams.
"Everton had a very strong start to the season and had a big win also at
Anfield and kept the momentum going.
"Very strong squad, very, very physical, full of talent, strong strikers,
dangerous No 10 with James (Rodriguez), strong, experienced players, super
strong manager at the sideline with Carlo (Ancelotti), who knows how to keep
momentum going.
"It's good that these games are on and it's good that we have a big, big
match that drives us. Then it's a very natural process to be at our top
level again because we don't need many words - the situation is very clear.
"We will need the next top-level performance to be able to win."
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