Chelsea must not fear latest Real Madrid decision as Thomas Tuchel stance offers protection

"I love working in the Premier League. I love to be in England and feel the tradition and love for football. It's an amazing place to be," said Thomas Tuchel earlier this month. "Chelsea is, from my point of view, the perfect fit. I love to be here and love everything about the club. I hope it continues."

Chelsea supporters very much feel the same way. They will not want to lose Tuchel, especially given all he has achieved since his arrival 14 months ago. There has been silverware – the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup – but more impressive is how he's led the club following Russia's horrific invasion of Ukraine.

The invasion sparked a series of events at Chelsea that led to Roman Abramovich deciding to sell the club and later being sanctioned by the UK government and the European Union. As the most senior public-facing member of staff, it was left to Tuchel to answer incredibly difficult questions. Many of which he simply didn't have the full answer to.

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Yet Tuchel almost always found the right words and struck the right tone in front of the media. He never once attempted to portray Chelsea as victims, nor asked for sympathy for the situation he and the players found themselves in. The German coach appreciated there were far bigger and more devastating events taking place. That football mattered little in comparison.

All the while, Tuchel continued his day job. He oversaw training, prepared for the constant stream of matches, and led Chelsea from his position in the dugout. Impressively, the Blues have won six out of their seven matches in all competitions since the uncertainty over the club's future began –