Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has many supporters for the way he has handled the club’s sanctioning by the UK Government and he’s gained another in Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish.
Chelsea are still reeling from the UK Government’s decision on Thursday due to their owner Roman Abramovich’s close links with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Abramovich had been sanctioned on the back of his homeland Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian oligarchs have been targeted since the start of the war and Abramovich was a known ally of president Putin.
Abramovich had already lined up to sell the club following the invasion, and he still will be able to do so as long as he doesn’t financially benefit from the sale.
Tuchel was thrusted into the spotlight once again on Sunday after Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Newcastle when questions inevitably focused on their off-field issues.
And watching the German’s latest press conference, Parish publicly praised him for his dealings throughout the clubs’s chaotic past few days.
‘Not my business really to comment on other clubs but I feel compelled to say this guy has been thrown into a near impossible situation and yet conducted himself impeccably.
He’s a credit to the institution of @ChelseaFC, it’s supporters, the @premierleague and himself.’
Thomas Tuchel (left) has been commended by Steve Parish for his handling of Chelsea’s situation in light of their sanctioning by the UK Government on Thursday
Crystal Palace chairman Parish tweeted his admiration for him just after midnight on Monday
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (pictured) was sanctioned by the UK Government last week
Russia’s war in Ukraine shifted the geopolitical picture to the extent where Chelsea must now operate under a stringent Government licence, to ensure Abramovich does not profit from the Blues.
Chelsea beat Newcastle 1-0 on Sunday and post-match Tuchel questioned the Premier League’s ownership tests. The Premier League insisted Newcastle’s owners, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, proved suitable separation from the Saudi state before its takeover, despite crown prince Mohammed bin Salman chairing the PIF.
When asked to appraise the different situations of Chelsea and Newcastle, with Saudi Arabia engaged in military conflict in Yemen, Tuchel replied: ‘Wow, that is a big one. Unfortunately, the situation is like this also for the owners of Newcastle and that affects things, yes.
‘What can I say? I don’t want to point the finger because comparing yourself or blaming others does not make the situation for us a different situation.
‘The statement (issued by the club a fortnight ago), that we condemn war and the actions from Russia towards Ukraine, there is no doubt.
‘But we’re facing the consequences actually at the moment and this is where the focus is. I hope you can understand.
Abramovich is a close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin who ordered the war against Ukraine
‘At some point, we need also to trust the process. For example, we need to trust the process of the Premier League as to who owns a club.
‘We are famous employees because we speak into a camera and on TV, but in general, we are only employees and need to trust the process.
‘Maybe as you need to trust the process that you work for a company that is not doing the morally and ethically wrong things. At some point, we need to trust.
‘Maybe we need to ask questions about the process of how this goes. Maybe it’s an ongoing process and it will never end. It just reminds us to be aware and conscious about it, and not look away.’
Chelsea will next week continue negotiations with the UK Government over relaxation of the special licence conditions, to help the Blues operate close to normal fashion.
Tuchel saw his Chelsea side bring some relief on the pitch with a 1-0 win over Newcastle
The Government will oversee Chelsea’s sale, with two interested parties – Nick Candy and Sir Martin Broughton – in attendance on Sunday.
Blues boss Tuchel had insisted in midweek he could only go day to day on his own future, but the 48-year-old has now confirmed he will stay at Chelsea as he expects a sale to be carried out in standard timescale.
‘There’s no doubt I’ll stay until the end of the season, absolutely,’ the German said. ‘We just have to wait and we still have to go day by day because everything can change.
‘But as you know, the situation is clear – the club’s for sale, and hopefully it will go through to sort things out and give us a perspective.
‘And that’s what I meant with day by day, which is anyway a good way to live your life, and now we are forced to do it because there are some circumstances we cannot influence.’
Nick Candy (centre) was at Stamford bridge to watch Chelsea beat Newcastle on Sunday