Thomas
Tuchel says Chelsea can have no regrets over allowing Conor Gallagher to
join Crystal Palace on loan despite their injury concerns in midfield.
Gallagher has shone for Palace, and recently scored twice in Sunday's 3-1
win over Everton to become their top goalscorer for the campaign with six so
far in the Premier League.
Tuchel would not clarify the terms of Gallagher's loan deal, although a
January recall looks extremely unlikely given the two clubs had an agreement
over his game-time - one which Palace are fulfilling.
Chelsea have at times been light in midfield with injuries to both N'Golo
Kante and Mateo Kovacic this season, but Tuchel said this factor cannot make
them rue the summer decision to let Gallagher leave.
"I said many times how much we like Conor, how well he is doing. Nothing has
changed, we see his goals and performances all the time," Tuchel said.
"There's absolutely no regret because it seems like it was the perfect
position for him and we discussed mainly for him what the best option was in
the summer.
"You cannot take circumstances now and doubt a decision from July, it's
simply not possible. We did what we did, and we're happy with it because it
works out for Conor.
"We need to work our issues out. We're a bit unlucky having injuries in the
centre, and we're suffering from it, but this has nothing to do with Conor."
Tuchel revealed Kante will be on the bench to face Everton on Thursday,
adding Kovacic should be back in training on Friday after a positive Covid
case delayed his return from injury.
Meanwhile, Tuchel was also asked about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was
stripped of the Arsenal captaincy on Tuesday.
Tuchel worked with Aubameyang at Borussia Dortmund, and the German said he
will reach out to the striker but will not judge Arsenal over their
decision.
He said: "I will [talk to him] at some point, but I don't want to disturb.
He was a very important player for me, we had a very close relationship.
Today when we meet it's still very nice, I can only say the best things
about Auba as a player and person.
"I feel sorry for him that he's in trouble, because that's not where he
should be with his kind of quality and that is not the character that he has
- I still believe in this.
"But I'm not involved in what's going on at his club. I want to show my
respect and not judge what is right or wrong."
'Out-of-contract quartet know we
appreciate them'
Tuchel said his defending quartet that are out of contract next summer all
know the club "appreciate them".
Deals for Thiago Silva, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Cesar
Azpilicueta all expire at the end of the season, and they will be free to
discuss summer moves with overseas clubs from January.
Asked if he was concerned these players could soon talk to other clubs,
Tuchel said: "No, not so much. I got scared when you told me, but this will
disappear again this feeling.
"These players know very well how much we appreciate them, the big role they
play in our plans and in the presence of this team.
"They are very aware of it. Of course it's their right to do things, but
it's also their right to stay with us and create the future - be a part of
the future of Chelsea Football Club.
"We are honoured with patience, with confidence, with the trust in the
relationship between players and staff, and players and the club, and this
is how it should be."
Tuchel also said he is unlikely to take vaccination status into account when
it comes to potential January transfers, although he went on to suggest
additions are unlikely.
He added: "I don't think so, because where would this end? Vaccination is
still a free choice, we're still free people, adult people. Everybody needs
to make their choice.
"It's strange and crazy times, we need to be very careful, but it has not
gone like this here. We're not in talks right now that we bring in players
because first of all we trust our squad, and hope we can bring our players
back to full-strength. We have a strong squad."
Rudiger: Tuchel 'opened new door' for me
Antonio Rudiger remains no closer to agreeing a contract extension with
Chelsea, but the defender has credited Thomas Tuchel for "opening a new
door" for him at the club.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, Rudiger admitted he was keen
to leave Chelsea under Tuchel's predecessor, Frank Lampard.
The Germany international was not a regular under Lampard, but has
established himself as a key player under countryman Tuchel and played a
vital role in the Blues' Champions League success last season.
Rudiger described the head coach's arrival in January as a "turning point",
adding: "Our relationship is good. It's not that he is hugging me every day
- I'm not the type of person that needs something like this.
"In the winter period, I was not keen to leave that much. It was more in the
summer period that I wanted to leave. [But] Tuchel came and the rest is
history.
"It shows a lot of trust that he plays me, and for me, it is common sense to
deliver.
"He opened a new door. He was important - he played a big role."
Despite Rudiger's warm relationship with Tuchel, his contract is set to
expire at the end of the season and he will be able to sign a pre-contract
agreement with foreign clubs from January.
No talks have taken place between Chelsea and Rudiger's representatives for
over three months, when the defender rejected the club's contract offer -
believed to be worth £140,000 per week.
A number of Europe's leading clubs are keen to sign the 28-year-old for next
season, including Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
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