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13th Mar 2022

Thomas Tuchel admits Chelsea uncertainty as Jamie Carragher urges Man United switch

Daniel Brown

‘No one knows what’s coming’

Thomas Tuchel has admitted that ‘no one knows what’s coming’ at Chelsea after club owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government.

The Russian billionaire was sanctioned as a result of his close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin, on Thursday. Abramovich is one of several high-profile Russians with interests in the UK who was named in a government report which sees all of their assets frozen.

Under the sanctions, Chelsea are banned from offering contracts, buying players and even selling tickets and merchandise. The club are also stopped from spending more than £20,000 on away travel or carry out any building work on Stamford Bridge.

While the Blues are still permitted to sell the club under a special license, manager Tuchel has admitted that there is uncertainty at the club.

‘Why would you not ask that question? – Carragher

Speaking to Sky Sports before Chelsea’s home tie against Newcastle United, he said: “No one knows what’s coming.

“One week ago, the statement was clear that the club was not for sale, one week later it is obviously [for sale].

“So, if anyone tells me today ‘This is what’s going to happen’, I will not trust them 100 per cent because we need to be flexible and things turn out to be crazy enough to be upside down one day later.

He added: “Of course, there are players who have uncertainties about future contracts, but maybe we can shift the focus, maybe they can feel the joy of being in a strong-bonded group to win football games and have a pure pleasure from that, and that helps them a little bit to forget the uncertainty.

“No one can come to my office and expect a solution because I don’t have it.”

Elsewhere on Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher followed up his recent column in The Telegraph, in which he suggested Manchester United should make a play for the German.

“I think it is realistic,” he insisted. “If you’re Manchester United why would you not ask that question? They need a manager, and Thomas Tuchel is one of the best managers in world football, right now.”

Abramovich was disqualified as a director of Chelsea on Saturday, but the Premier League’s decision is not expected to impact the sale of the club with the government watching over as bids are likely to come in within the next week.

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