Thomas Tuchel has refused to be drawn on Sir Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams' interest in being part of the takeover bid to buy Chelsea Football Club. The sports megastars are said to be investing in Sir Martin Broughton's consortium to buy the west London club.
Hamilton, a seven-time Formula One world champion, and Williams, a 23-time tennis Grand Slam champion, are both investors backing Broughton's attempt to acquire Chelsea. Hamilton confessed his interest in buying the club during a press conference ahead on Friday.
The Mercedes AMG F1 driver said: "Ultimately, I'm a sporting fan. It's the biggest sport in the world, and Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world and one of the most successful. When I heard about this opportunity, I was like: 'Wow, this is one of the greatest opportunities to be a part of something."
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Hamilton added: "I've been a football fan since I was a kid. I've played since I was a kid, from four to 17, in teams every year. I played every year through childhood, and I've been to numerous games.
"When I was young, around the corner from where I lived, I used to play football with all of the kids and a couple of my close friends at the time, and I really wanted to fit in. I was the only kid of colour there.
"All the kids supported someone different - one was Tottenham, one was Man United, and I remember switching between these teams when I was younger and when I'd get home my sister punching me several times in my arm, and saying: 'You have to support Arsenal.' So, I remember at five, six years old, I then became a supporter of Arsenal, but my uncle Terry is a big Blues fan, so I've been to so many games with him to watch Arsenal and Chelsea play."
Hamilton is now part of Broughton's consortium, one of three remaining bidders for Chelsea. Sky Sports report, though, that if Broughton's bid was to be successful, then Hamilton and Williams would have 'no say on football matters.'
Tuchel, as he always is, was asked about the Chelsea takeover situation in his press conference on Friday. However, the German did not have too much to say about Hamilton and Williams' involvement in the bid, apart from revealing his mass respect for the two sporting icons.
"I just heard it [the Hamilton and Williams news]," Tuchel said to the media. "I got a briefing that they are a part of it.
"I can tell you not more than that I am a big admirer of both of them. Fantastic sports personalities on the court, on the racetrack and off.
"They take responsibility as human beings and are outstanding sports figures in what they do. They have our biggest and my biggest respect.
"I have absolutely no insight into the proceeding and what role they play. I would not like to comment."
