Chelsea coach Zsolt Low has praised the impact of Petr Cech and Chelsea's set-up in dealing with the absence of Thomas Tuchel at the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
The Blues boss tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup win over Plymouth and has yet to be able to travel to the United Arab Emirates to join up with his squad.
Tuchel's coaching staff have stepped up to lead matchday preperation and activities, with Low and Arno Michels both facing the press in recent days.
Cech has already worked closely with Tuchel this season, in the aftermath of Romelu Lukaku's interview and now appears to be playing an active role with the rest of the 48-year-old's staff.
Low said: "Thomas is the coach who likes to be with team with energy. It's for him a new challenge also. He has to deal with it. Petr is all the time with us. He was an amazing player, now an amazing sports director. He has a very good feel and when we need him he steps up. He doesn't want to disturb and be part of every meeting but he is giving us some support.
"It's a big challenge but we have a very good structure club with Chelsea. Petr Cech supports us well when Thomas is not here. We have a good medical staff, team management. We have a lot of support. And a lot of video calls with Thomas. He'll support us as best he can and give us every day preparation in meetings. In the next days there's the possibility to talk to the team."
Tuchel's presence remains clear in Chelsea's preparation but the Blues boss is having to overcome his technological weaknesses.
Despite the time difference Tuchel is at the beck and call of his staff, with alarms set for each meeting even in the early morning. Cyber team talks may be difficult in the dressing room, but contact will be made throughout the game.
Low explained how they were dealing with Tuchel being unavailable.
He said: "You cannot copy him. We have to share the whole training and coaching staff. We have to share different things on the sideline. We try to push the team forward, change all the time. Phone calls and messages aren't Thomas' strongest part but he needs to be prepared and ready and be with us on the phone. He's been absolutely perfect in the last days.
"We have meetings with an alarm call. If we need him at 6am, we need him at 6am and we are training in the afternoon so Thomas is already awake. Maybe he can connect with the team. In the hotel is a bit easier with the connection. Maybe here in the dressing room can be more difficult. We all the time have phone contact also during the game so he can analyse and try to translate to the team."
Low was further asked whether Tuchel could perhaps travel on Friday to join Chelsea for the latter part of the tournament.
The coach said: "He'll follow the government rules, get tested every day and we hope the next will be negative so he can travel as fast as possible and enjoy the group and the team.
"We hope but we have texts, phone calls, video calls and give him the feeling he's with us. We need his absolute support. Twenty four hours he is there."
