Remote coaching role for Covid-stricken Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel will aim to give Chelsea a virtual team-talk ahead of their Club World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

The Blues boss has been unable to join the Blues in Abu Dhabi after testing positive for coronavirus.

The German missed Saturday's 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round win over Plymouth, watching from home as his side edged out the Pilgrims after extra time.

Tuchel’s assistants Arno Michels and Zsolt Low will take charge for Wednesday’s Club World Cup semi-final against Al Hilal at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, but will be in constant contact with Tuchel.

And the former Borussia Dortmund boss will do his best to deliver a pre-match speech through video technology.

"We’re constantly in contact with Thomas," first-team coach Low said. "We have a lot of meetings together and we’re video calling all the time, many times in the day.

"We record training and send that to him, we change ideas a lot of times in the day.

"It’s a question for the next hours and the next day, maybe, as to how we can connect Thomas with the team before the match.

"I think in the hotel it might be easier; it might be more difficult at the stadium.

"But also during the game we can be in contact with him, on what he sees and what he wants us to do."

Chelsea remain hopeful Tuchel will be able to join the Blues in the United Arab Emirates for Saturday’s match, which will either be the final or the third-place play-off.

Low insisted none of Chelsea’s other coaches will attempt to mimic Tuchel’s passionate and energetic touchline demeanour in Wednesday’s last-four encounter.

"You can’t copy Thomas – he’s one of the best coaches in the whole world," Low said.

"That’s why you have to share the training and coaching, and do different roles.

"And on the sideline also, as in