THOMAS TUCHEL is braced for a wave of anti-Chelsea feeling over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The bloody conflict in Eastern Europe has placed the Blues’ billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich and his club under the spotlight.
Thomas Tuchel fears a wave of anti-Chelsea feeling from rivals over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Billionaire owner Roman Abramovich is in the spotlight after Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade
Boss Tuchel revealed the “horrible” situation is “clouding the minds” of everyone as he struggles to focus on Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final against Liverpool at Wembley.
Tuchel said: “To a degree I can understand the critical opinions towards the club, towards us who represent that club. I can understand that and we cannot fully free ourselves from it.
“Nobody expected this. It’s pretty unreal, it’s clouding our minds, it’s clouding excitement towards the final and it brings huge uncertainty.
“Much more to all people and families who are actually in the moment more involved than us. And our best wishes and our regards and thoughts are obviously with them, which is absolutely most important.”
Labour MP Chris Bryant says Abramovich should be banned from owning Chelsea because he is a ‘person of interest’ according to British security services.
Tuchel added: “There are so many uncertainties around the situation of our club and of the situation in the UK with scenarios like this.
“We are aware of it but maybe people should understand that me as a coach or the players, we don’t have the insight what is really going on.
“We don’t have as much inside information as you think and in the very end maybe it’s best to not be too political.
“We should not pretend that this is not an issue. The situation in general, for me and for my staff and for everybody here, for the players, is horrible.
“I am aware of all the scenarios and of all the discussions at the moment.
“I would love to take my right not to comment on this until there is a decision made. But we are aware of it and it’s distracting us, it’s worrying us.
“There is no running away from it. There is no shutting the doors to focus on football.”
There are concerns the Carabao Cup final will be overshadowed by anti-Russia demonstrations as the sporting world unites against the violence.
FINAL HEADS TO FRANCE
UEFA has moved this season’s Champions League final from the Russian city of St Petersburg to Paris – the third year in a row the venue has changed midseason.
Tuchel said: “Yes, and sadly it’s the worst reason to change a location. Absolutely the worst
“The last two times it was because of corona and that was not good, and now we have even worse news.”
Tuchel’s plans to win the third trophy of his time as Chelsea boss have been thrown into turmoil.
He said: “We cannot say let’s put this to the side. It’s the opposite. We have to live with it right now.
“We are still privileged to live in peace and freedom right here where we are right now. And we are still privileged to have a game of football, to have an emotional but peaceful environment with fans in the stadium.
“We are very, very, very privileged, so this is a hardcore reality check right now. How privileged we are.
“And I don’t think this will go away, that my mind is clouded. It will not go away for anybody. The issue is too big.
“The situation is too big and it is not an isolated situation somewhere. It concerns Europe, it’s in Europe and we are part of Europe.
“War in Europe was unthinkable for me for a long period. The impact is clear and the discussions have an impact.
“Let’s be a bit more patient and understand what the measurements will be and then we have to maybe deal with it.”
