Thomas Tuchel has never shied away from answering difficult questions throughout his Chelsea tenure. So when asked to confirm whether Antonio Rudiger had opted to depart Stamford Bridge when his contract ends in the summer, the Blues head coach did just that.
"The situation is that he wants to leave the club. He informed me of this in a private talk," Tuchel told Sky Sports rather matter-of-factly after his side's 1-0 win over West Ham United. "We gave everything – me and the club – but we could not fight anymore because of the actions. Without the sanctions, we would at least be able to carry on fighting, but our hands are tied. We don't take it personally. It is his decision.
"He is a key figure and will stay that way until the end of the season, but it is disappointing. We will miss him a lot. He gives courage in the dressing room. He is the kind [of player] everyone is afraid of, but the kind to play 50-55 games at an outstanding level. He is a top defender in the last one-and-a-half years for me. We then need to find another solution."
