Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel, has sent a clear message to the club’s next new owners.
Tuchel suggested he would prefer Chelsea’s new owners to be less controversial so he can get back to simply being a coach.
The German said this during his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League tie with Lille on Wednesday.
Recall that Roman Abramovich is currently in the process of selling the Blues after being sanctioned by the UK government and has instructed US merchant bank Raine to oversee the process, with Friday’s deadline for bids fast approaching.
Reports had emerged suggesting Saudi Media Group had made a £2.7billion offer for Chelsea, though that could generate even more controversy for the west London club.
Recall that the Premier League faced enormous backlash when Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was allowed to buy Newcastle United.
If the Saudi Arabia bid for Chelsea is successful and avoids any conflict of interest with Newcastle, Tuchel will undoubtedly face yet more political questions after weeks of dealing with the Abramovich fallout on behalf of the Stamford Bridge club’s so far silent hierarchy.
Asked if Saudi Arabian ownership would mean he [Tuchel] needs to continue his role as a Chelsea ‘ambassador’ and result in more non-football questions, Tuchel replied: “Yeah, but before we discuss a new owner a new owner needs to arrive.
“And a new owner needs to be approved and a new owner needs to be allowed to own the football club, and then we can discuss it, if it’s necessary.
“But then again, maybe I’m not the right person because there is a process about how you become an owner in this league.
“And, of course, like I said to you after the last game, everybody relies on the reliability of the process and on the values which are behind the decision and the permission to own a club and to run a club.
“Did I have a choice [to become an ambassador for Chelsea]? No, I did not have a choice to also take this role. Do I need it? No.
“But listen, it’s more or less day-by-day. It’s like this in England that not a lot of people in general in sports are talking at a football club. It’s a structure that I really appreciate, we talk inside. Of course we have people who are in charge of different roles and different responsibilities.
“But to the outside it’s more or less just me who talks. Was it always comfortable? No. But I think it’s necessary.
“I don’t think too much about it. I try to be honest and I try to give you an insight and I try to provide you with information, but more or less still from a sporting side, and from a coach’s heart.
“This is what I try and this is maybe what you can rely on. And I’m more than happy if things calm down and we can talk more about football – more than happy.”
