Thomas
Tuchel has dismissed rumours that he could become Manchester United manager,
claiming he has "plenty of reasons to stay" at Chelsea despite the club's
off-field problems.
The German head coach's future at Stamford Bridge has come into question in
recent weeks in the wake of sanctions placed on Russian owner Roman
Abramovich, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher leading calls for United
to make a move for Tuchel.
But the Blues boss has reiterated his desire to stay at the club, which he
claims gives him "everything he needs to make me happy".
"Actually no reaction at all [to the rumours]," said Tuchel in a press
conference before Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final at Middlesbrough. "Do you
feel me less committed to the club or less involved in the club? Absolutely
not.
"I have said many times that I love to be here and this club has everything
it needs to make me happy. There is no need. We have plenty of reasons to
stay at the moment.
"I do my best and I've felt the support here in the club since day one. That
makes me feel safe and then I do my best to play my role and push things
forward."
Sky Sports' Carragher believed Manchester United should ask the question
about Tuchel's availability, as Chelsea's Premier League rivals search for
an option after Ralf Rangnick's interim stint.
"I think it is realistic in that if you are Manchester United why wouldn't
you ask that question?" Carragher added. "Unfortunately with the situation
that Chelsea find themselves in, other clubs will be looking at their
situation in terms of players or managers going forward, that's the nature
of the beast.
"He's one of the best managers in world football and Manchester United are
looking for one but I think he's come out and said that he's committed to
the club and I'm sure that what he's got to say.
"But there are uncertain times for Chelsea because you don't know what the
ownership is going to be towards the end of the season.
"He's 100 per cent the most important person you have to keep in place as a
new owner. In terms of Thomas Tuchel, they have a guy - and there's very few
of them in world football - who can compete with Jurgen Klopp and Pep
Guardiola, whether it's in this league or the Champions League. And those
managers are very few and far between right now."
Tuchel: Let's see what happens with new
owners
Final bids for Chelsea are due in at 9pm on Friday evening, with the Raine
Group based in New York controlling the sale of the club on Abramovich's
behalf.
Among 200 different groups have registered an interest in the club, but
Tuchel claims he will try and maintain the culture that currently exists at
Chelsea, no matter who succeeds Abramovich as owner.
"I am an employee and that's why I'm ready to play my role and adapt,"
Tuchel added. "Let's see what's coming. It's uncertain times and uncertainty
can create for some people fear and that's completely normal.
"But we can also trust in what we have in the culture of the club and what
we have here in Cobham and the quality of the group. We can trust in that
and trust for a good outcome. We stay positive and hopefully it will come
like this. Hopefully they [the new owners] love winning, that would be a big
plus."
The state of play ahead of Chelsea bids
deadline
- The Ricketts family: The American family who own the Chicago Cubs.
Significantly, they are backed by Ken Griffin, who is a hedge fund
billionaire and we've been told he is almost three times as rich as Roman
Abramovich. He is also the single richest individual that we are aware of at
the moment who is interested in buying Chelsea.
- Sir Martin Broughton: There is another bid which is being fronted by Sir
Martin Broughton. He is a former chairman of British Airways, a former
chairman of Liverpool who was heavily involved when Liverpool was taken over
by Fenway Sports Group. He is a long-term Chelsea supporter and he has
teamed up with Lord Coe, another long-term Chelsea supporter. Lord Coe said
Wednesday night that Broughton is the right man to lead Chelsea into the
future and also their consortium is backed by the American financier,
Michael Klein.
- Nick Candy: Another bid that is very interesting is one that involves
another life-long Chelsea supporter. He is backed by Gianluca Viallli, who
of course used to play for Chelsea. Vialli now has a company called Tifosy
Capital. Vialli said on Wednesday he was very proud and privileged to be
involved in Candy's bid and that he'd met him on several occasions in the
past few weeks. He believes Candy is the right man to lead Chelsea into the
future.
- The Boehly-Wyss-Goldstein-Finkelstein consortium: There's also the other
bid from the US, part-owner of the LA Dodgers Todd Boehly who has teamed up
with Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and they are backed by Jonathan
Goldstein. Times columnist and former Conservative government adviser Daniel
Finkelstein has joined the trio.He is a Chelsea supporter and would become a
non-executive director if the bid is successful. He was made a life peer in
2013. Bloomberg are reporting that Barbara Charone has also joined the same
consortium. She is a Chelsea fan who set up the music PR company MBC PR.
Madonna, Foo Fighters, Rod Stewart and Maroon 5 are some of their artists.
- Aethel Partners: Aethel Partners put in a bid worth more than £2billion
for Chelsea on Thursday. It is an investment company based in Berkeley
Square in London. It is willing to provide Chelsea with an immediate £50m to
deal with any short-term financing the club may need.
- Another bidder? Other possible bidders include Woody Johnson, the former
US ambassador to the UK and owner of the New York Jets. He is very close to
Donald Trump and is putting together a consortium as well. There is also the
Saudi Media Group, which is said to be interested.
Chelsea will 'fight' to get fans in for
Real Madrid games
Chelsea have been drawn against Real Madrid in the Champions League
quarter-finals, but they currently cannot allow any of their fans to attend
either of the two legs due to the sanctions placed on Abramovich.
Tuchel confirmed that the club are in talks to try and get round these
restrictions - with the German vowing that the board will do everything they
can to get Chelsea fans in the ground for the European contest.
"It's a tough one," said Tuchel when asked about the task of facing Real
Madrid. "The challenge couldn't be much higher, playing the second leg in
the Bernabeu with their spectators.
"It's a big challenge and a big excitement around this match and this
fixture. We know what's coming and it will be an exciting match and a tough
challenge.
"It would be a disadvantage [to play without Chelsea fans] but in general
this game is for the spectators and the game changes so much with
spectators.
"Hopefully we can find a situation, hopefully everyone in the club and
abroad will fight for a chance. I don't know how big the possibility is [for
Chelsea fans to attend the games]. But every game is for the spectators and
it's a different game when the crowd is in the stadium."
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