Tuchel praises focus of Chelsea players as troubled holders reach Champions League quarters

Chelsea’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel (C) celebrates after winning the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Lille (LOSC) and Chelsea FC at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on March 16, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel praised his players for remaining focused amid the uncertainty about the club’s future after they progressed Wednesday to the Champions League quarter-finals, where he said they would be “the team nobody wants to play”.

The reigning European champions came from behind to beat Lille 2-1 in northern France and win their last-16 tie 4-1 on aggregate with Christian Pulisic and captain Cesar Azpilicueta scoring their goals.

The victory came on the same day it emerged that the Ricketts family, owners of Major League Baseball team the Chicago Cubs, were leading a consortium looking to buy the club while British athletics great Sebastian Coe announced his involvement in a rival takeover bid.

Reeling from the impact of UK government sanctions imposed on their Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, it was also reported on Wednesday by Sky Sports that EU sanctions mean Chelsea cannot sell tickets for their next Champions League home ties.

If confirmed that would mean Chelsea playing behind closed doors in Europe at Stamford Bridge.

“Thanks for ruining my evening,” Tuchel said when that was put to him as he spoke to reporters at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

“Can we speak about it when it’s confirmed? Let’s see. Today I’m happy we are in the last eight.”

Chelsea has now played five games since Abramovich put the club up for sale on March 2 and won them all.

Since losing 1-0 at Manchester City in mid-January, Tuchel’s team have lost