Chelsea technical and performance advisor Petr Cech is hoping that the club will retain the services of head coach Thomas Tuchel following the wave of sanctions that were imposed against owner Roman Abramovich on Thursday — but has admitted nothing can be guaranteed as things stand.
Two weeks on from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UK government has been stamping down on the number of wealthy Russians with assets within the UK. Abramovich, of course, ranks as one of the wealthiest men in the world and has been hit hard by the sanctions.
The situation means Chelsea are currently banned from selling tickets and merchandise, offering new contracts to players and staff, signing and selling players and must not exceed a £20,000 budget for travelling to and from fixtures. However, they are allowed, under the license granted, to continue training and fulfilling fixtures.
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However, the current sanctions — that are to remain in place until May 31 at the earliest, unless a sale of the club is completed under special rules — mean uncertainty currently surrounds the future of Tuchel. The German, who has tried to focus on the football side of the operation in recent days, is, naturally, being linked with a move to Manchester United, as they search for a new boss.
Currently, Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag of Ajax are the leading candidates, but developments at Chelsea have, as expected, resulted in Tuchel being linked with replacing Ralf Rangnick at Old Trafford s with Jamie Carragher leading the calls for United to appoint him.
After similar comments from Tuchel earlier in the week, Cech not worried about losing the manager. However, he has admitted that the situation could all change in the blink of an eye.
Cech told Sky Sports : "Thomas is contracted until 2024 and, as it stands, the contracts should be able to run through until they are meant to finish. We hope to have him as a coach because since has come in he has been absolutely brilliant.
"But it is another thing, because tomorrow the situation could change and my answer is then irrelevant."
Tuchel took charge at Stamford Bridge in January 2021, replacing Frank Lampard, and has done an outstanding job; he guided the club to the Champions League crown last season and they have won the Super Cup and Club World Cup this time around. They also reached the FA Cup final last term.
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