Tuchel ‘up for the challenge’ of ‘rebuilding’ Chelsea this summer – ‘we will be competitive’
Thomas Tuchel has insisted that he is “up for the challenge” of “rebuilding” Chelsea football club during the summer transfer window.
The Blues will lose Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively this summer.
Chelsea are banned from signing players or securing current players to new contracts under the strict terms of the UK government license.
Liverpool 4-4 Manchester City in F365’s Premier League XI of the season
Owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the Government on March 10, with Downing Street claiming to have proven his links to Russian president Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich’s lawyers are understood to be hopeful of striking a legal resolution with the Government that could now usher through Chelsea’s £4.25billion sale to Todd Boehly.
The Government is yet to agree to any terms, it is understood, with the granting of a licence to complete the sale the final step of Boehly’s purchase process.
Chelsea’s hiatus in the transfer market has allowed rivals, both domestic and European, to steal a march on summer window targets.
“You ask many times if we have a delay in approaching players and making plans; of course, a huge delay,” said Blues boss Tuchel.
“We are affected by it, players are going out. We are rebuilding, not improving the squad. This is always challenging but we are up for the challenge.
“I don’t know where we are from day one. What I can promise is that I will be here – if I can promise that. I will be here with full energy and positive energy no matter what.
“We will still work for Chelsea and I refuse to think of negative scenarios. We will be competitive, on which level we will see.
“On how the delay and sanctions will affect us, there is a risk.
“It will be very challenging to make up for the disadvantage, given the situation of the other two teams, City and Liverpool, who are already improving the squad and set one benchmark after the other in all aspects of the game.”