Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel ‘angry’ if clubs found exploiting Covid rules to get games postponed

Thomas Tuchel also confirmed that Chelsea have been successful in recalling Kenedy from loan spell at Flamengo to boost their full back options.
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Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said he would be “very angry” if clubs had been exploiting Covid rules to get matches called off.

A raft of Premier League games have been postponed recently, with reports that Arsenal have tried to get the north London derby delayed.

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Questions have been asked whether the Premier League has been too quick to call off games, and clubs have been using Covid cases to get matches rearranged when they have injuries and players on international duty.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.

Tuchel said: “I strongly, strongly hope that is not the case because I would be very angry.

“We are doing everything to make games happen and we were made to play when we thought we maybe should not.

“So I can only strongly hope the rules are the same for everybody.”

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Chelsea themselves are coming off a period of crisis where they had missed players through Covid and injuries, and tried to get games postponed without success.

The German confirmed that they have been successful in recalling Kenedy from loan spell at Flamengo to boost their full back options.

The Brazilian last played for Chelsea in 2016 but will get another chance to prove he has what it takes to be successful at Stamford Bridge due to injuries to Recce James and Ben Chillwell.

Kenedy of Chelsea in action during the preseason friendly match . (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)Kenedy of Chelsea in action during the preseason friendly match . (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
Kenedy of Chelsea in action during the preseason friendly match . (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)

Tuchel said: “Kenedy is back and I am very happy about it. It’s a huge opportunity for him to make his mark at this club and this team. We will try now, from today on, to push and support him.

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“I like the personality of the player and I liked the player even before I came to Chelsea.

“I saw him play for Chelsea and I saw him play for Newcastle but we have to be honest that is a long time ago but we will do everything to push him and support him.”

The Chelsea boss also admitted he would feel disappointed if his career at Chelsea were to end without him winning the Premier League.

Tuchel has enjoyed the most successful period of his career, leading the Blues to Champions League and Super Cup success in his first year at the club.

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He also reached the FA Cup finaleven though they lost to Leicester, and has just led the lead the team to the Carabao Cup final where they will play either Arsenal or Liverpool.

But he admits he will feel that something is missing if his time at Stamford Bridge would come to an end without adding to the number of Premier League titles won.

“The Premier League is the strongest competition in England, the Champions League is the strongest competition in Europe, both very important but different too,” the German manager said.

“I would have told you that I would be disappointed if I did not win the Premier League in my time here and yeah it’s a clear yes I would feel like something is missing.

“Yeah it’s a clear yes that we will feel that something is missing  and that is very clear.“