When Thomas Tuchel’s staff arrived at their hotel the day before their FA Cup quarterfinal against Middlesbrough and discovered that some of their rooms would not be available until noon, it exemplified the chaotic end to Chelsea’s season.
“Our entire staff was sitting in the lobby because only the players and I had the rooms longer – it was a very strange situation for a club accustomed to an exceptional level of organization and support,” says Tuchel. “If you don’t know how you will arrive at a Champions League game, whether you have a plane or don’t have a plane, or if you have a long trip after playing Newcastle and you don’t know whether you must travel by bus or plane…
“Your arrival occurred during some chaotic times, but it was wonderful to see that we can adapt. We are spoiled, but not to the point where everyone becomes irritable. It was nice to see that everyone was willing to adapt and do their best when we played cards or watched live sports together.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine at the end of February, Chelsea has been preoccupied with adaptation. After the departures of director Marina Granovskaia, chairman Bruce Buck, and technical and performance adviser Petr Cech, Tuchel is the only remaining senior figure from the Roman Abramovich era, less than 50 days after Todd Boehly’s takeover.
“I never would have guessed that I would spend more time at the club than Roman, Marina, and Petr,” he admits. “This could not be. Since Marina is no longer in charge and Petr is no longer present, a great deal has changed. We didn’t see that coming, and now that Todd is the sports director, we have a very intense and close relationship to get the signings done and improve the team.
Boehly, who is well-known in the United States for transforming the Los Angeles Dodgers into World Series champions in 2020, has been in daily contact with Tuchel as they attempt to transform Chelsea’s squad into potential title contenders within a few weeks.
The acquisition of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City and the impending arrival of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for a combined nearly £85m indicate that the 48-year-old American is slowly gaining a foothold in the wild west of the transfer market with the assistance of his German manager.
The states, “He is requesting our opinion, he has players he likes, there are players offered to him, and he can always have our opinion; this is a lively discussion.” “However, there is a type of list. It’s never the case that you list six names and say, “Bring me these players or I’m leaving” I never worked like this. But of course, the positions are clear, the profiles are clear, and then there are one, two, or three names on the list, and in transfer periods it doesn’t take long before a fourth, fifth, or sixth name from all sides is added.
“It’s similar, but we’ve done it before, so it’s my responsibility to stay focused and avoid distractions. It is quite a lot to deal with for our owners and especially for Todd, who is doing it for the first time in football, as well as for Chelsea as a competitive team in the transfer market, and we are trying to keep everyone focused on improving the team, which is essential.”
That may sound like a dream scenario for most managers, but Tuchel is eagerly awaiting the club’s appointment of a new sporting director.
“It’s not my favorite task, and in the long run, the emphasis must be on coaching, since that’s why I’m here,” he says. “However, at this time, my assistance is needed and desired, and I must assume the responsibility.
Petr was a very present figure, a role model, and a type of daily support that I never had as a coach before. With Petr’s departure, I believe it’s important for everyone at Cobham to assume a little bit more responsibility, not only for me but also because Petr’s departure drastically alters daily life.
“He was involved in literally every aspect of Cobham’s operations, in every department. He was hands-on and knew how to handle it because he understood what Chelsea was all about; therefore, the entire Cobham staff must assume a bit more responsibility. Not only for his work, but also for the process and interaction between the departments, and this is addressed and my current objective.”
With more defensive recruits such as PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe needed to fill gaps, Chelsea’s situation has been so urgent that Tuchel has spoken with some senior players “to calm them down and let them know that we’re on it.” “We are slightly behind in the transfer race, but that does not mean we cannot find solutions that will make us happier, stronger, and more competitive. This is the ultimate objective.”
Sterling was “absolutely first” on Tuchel’s list to replace Romelu Lukaku, who returned to Internazionale on loan one year after his £90 million transfer. The manager describes England forward as “horrible to play against, horrible!” and, despite regretting how things turned out with Lukaku, he maintains that the Belgian could have had a future at Stamford Bridge.
“There has never been a meeting in which I said, ‘I want this person to leave.'” Never, he declares. “I was always clear: if he stays, we will do everything to put him in a better position, get him in better shape, enhance my coaching style and our playing style, and make him a better fit. There was always a chance he would stay, but Romelu has made it abundantly clear that he wants to leave, so the club’s owners decided to make a decision immediately.
Those who remain must quickly regain their footing. In a season that will be severely disrupted by the World Cup, envious glances at Tottenham’s transfer dealings under Antonio Conte – “possibly the strongest team they’ve ever built,” according to Tuchel – suggest competition will be even fiercer.
Despite his heavy workload, Tuchel remains optimistic about Chelsea’s chances of catching up as they prepare for three friendlies, including one against Arsenal in Orlando next weekend, on their US tour.
“Hopefully not,” he responds when asked if Chelsea is a transitioning team. “I do not wish to use it to put everything into perspective at this time. I want to be prepared for the Everton match. I will demand victory from myself, my team, and all of my players.
The team will be formidable. Even though it may be true that we are in transition, I am unwilling to use it as an excuse. We can, I can, and I believe the team can focus on what makes us strong and figure out how to win games step by step.”
