Thomas Tuchel hopes Abramovich exist won’t affect Chelsea

• Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has delivered his verdict after Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich announced he is selling the club.
• Tuchel has said he hopes the announcement will not have a short-term impact on the club.
• However, the manager has said he does not know what will happen once the club is handed to new owners.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has said he does not know what impact Roman Abramovich’s announcement that he will sell Chelsea will have on the club after his side overcame Luton Town 3-2 in the FA Cup after coming back twice in the match.

Abramovich on Wednesday confirmed he would sell up after 19 years as owner of the European champions, saying the decision is “in the best interest of the club”.

The Russian native stated that he will not ask for any loans to be repaid and has instructed his team to set up a charitable foundation, where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. Abramovich revealed the foundation would be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine.

Tuchel’s side were later caught cold on the pitch at Kenilworth Road on a massive day for the Blues, as Reece Burke and Harry Cornick edged Championship Luton ahead either side of Saul Niguez’s equaliser.

Chelsea players celebrate after Romelu Lukaku scored the third against Luton Town in an FA Cup clash on Wednesday, March 2 2022. | PHOTO: Getty Images |

However, Timo Werner’s second-half strike restored parity before Romelu Lukaku delivered the decisive strike.

But the focus after the game turned back to Abramovich’s announcement, and Tuchel stated that it would be impossible for him to know what would happen following what the club’s owner described as “a tough decision” for him.

“Maybe I heard it a little bit earlier than you, but still, it was close to kick-off,” Tuchel told the BBC when asked about the situation at the Premier League club.

“We heard the rumours throughout the day, of course, it is on television when we have team meetings, and the guys are talking about it, everybody talks about it – it is big news.

“Let’s wait and see, hope for the best and see what the day brings. Every decision he takes for the club is the right decision; it’s his choice, it’s his club, and it’s not on me to comment.”

When pushed for an answer on what the news could mean in the short term, Tuchel does not have an answer even if he wanted to answer.

“In the concise term, for us as a team, staff and players, hopefully, it won’t mean too much and maybe change nothing, but the situation is now out there; it’s a big situation.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel spoke after the FA Cup clash with Luton Town, where his side emerged 2-3 winners. | PHOTO: Getty Images |

“I can understand that there will be a lot of reports, but we try to cancel the noise, as we always do, and to stay focused, which is not always easy.

“We showed again that we can do it, and we will try again on Saturday [against Burnley].”

A much-changed Chelsea was largely unconvincing against Nathan Jones’ Championship side, but Tuchel was delighted with a performance that meant more in the circumstances.

Asked if the result was of greater significance with the ongoings off the field, Tuchel added: “Yeah, I think so, we’re not living on an island – the guys have an internet connection, the TV is running, and we see the news and the rumours.

“It is not normal to be so attached to something and play on the same day in a match where the focus is key, to win is not so easy, but it makes it a bigger performance, and that is why I’m very happy.”

Chelsea will be in action again on Saturday, making a trip to Turf Moor to take Burnley in the Premier League.