Tuchel 'can't imagine' Chelsea without Abramovich after club put up for sale

Thomas Tuchel admitted he cannot imagine life without Roman Abramovich after the Russian billionaire's stunning decision to put Chelsea up for sale.

Abramovich has come to the "incredibly difficult" conclusion that he must sell Chelsea amid the political fall-out from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The 55-year-old revealed the shock news less than an hour before Chelsea kicked off in their 3-2 FA Cup fifth round win at Luton on Wednesday.

Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and his vast investment helped the west London club win 19 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns.

He hired Tuchel in January 2021 and was in Abu Dhabi recently to watch as Chelsea won the Club World Cup for the first time, having already lifted the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup in the German's reign.

But the Abramovich era at Stamford Bridge is coming to an abrupt end due to the war in Ukraine.

Abramovich reportedly opted to sell Chelsea amid fears he could come under British government sanctions given his alleged links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

With a consortium of billionaires already making their interest in a deal public, Abramovich set his asking price for Chelsea at a reported £3 billion ($4 billion) and pledged to give the net proceeds to victims of the Ukraine conflict.

Swiss tycoon Hansjorg Wyss and American investor Todd Boehly, a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, are understood to be two of the parties joining forces to bid for the Blues.

Tuchel and his players only learned of the oligarch's decision to sell up shortly before the Luton match.

'Massive change'

And he conceded he needed time to get to grips with the seismic changes on the horizon in the post-Abramovich world.

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