https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2022/02/04/
tuchel-press-conference-ahead-of-plymouth-argyle-fa-cup-tie
Tuchel rules four out for Plymouth cup tie, assesses winter transfer
window and updates on James comeback timeline
04 Feb 2022
Thomas Tuchel has three players still unavailable for selection with
injury following the winter break, while Christian Pulisic has also been
ruled out of our FA Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle.
https://i.imgur.com/OhJlMMg.jpg
The American returned from international duty late this week and has been
handed a couple of days off before joining the squad in flying to Abu
Dhabi for the Club World Cup. Meanwhile, Tuchel is without an English trio
who are continuing their injury rehabilitation at various stages.
'We have no Reece James, no Ben Chilwell and no Ruben Loftus-Cheek, they
are still injured,' said the boss at his usual pre-match media briefing
via video link from Cobham.
'Everybody else has been training except Thiago Silva and Christian
Pulisic so it was a good training week. It's very rare that we have four
training sessions to prepare a match and it's nice to have a bit more
physical input than normal.
https://i.imgur.com/guPO7vr.jpg
'We feel well-prepared and it's also necessary because we respect the
competition and our opponent tomorrow. For them, it's a unique game where
they have nothing to lose.'
Pulisic played for the USA national team in sub-zero temperatures in the
early hours of Thursday morning UK time, with the thermometer dropping to
as low as minus 16C at one stage in Minnesota. The forward came off the
bench to score in a 3-0 World Cup qualifying win against Honduras and
Tuchel admits his physical condition will be monitored closely in the
coming days.
'I was just made aware today about the temperature so it will be quite an
adaptation for him to go from minus 16C to plus 24C in Abu Dhabi,' he
revealed.
https://i.imgur.com/FkB8syT.jpg
Pulisic played in sub-zero temperatures in Minnesota earlier this week and
won't be involved tomorrow for the Blues
'Don't forget that Christian and Thiago Silva did not have the break so he
will arrive tomorrow with us to travel to Abu Dhabi and we will see how he
adapts to this extreme change.'
One player set to miss the trip is defender James who, although making
good progress from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since late
December, still hasn't returned to team training at Cobham.
'He needs some time in team training to get the rhythm and confidence back
so he won't travel with us tomorrow,' added Tuchel.
'I've been a manager for too long to have a feeling for injuries and not
to get over-excited by pure dates that are maybe out there. I know we can
have setbacks and it can take long sometimes. The injury was a big one and
I felt that straightaway so from there you know we need to be patient.
https://i.imgur.com/ML6L5Ka.jpg
Chilwell and James remain sidelined, though the latter is making progress
towards a return to team training
'Reece also caught the flu and this was a setback in the last week so he
had lost days in the process of coming back with the team. We want him
back on the pitch tomorrow but we are patient. I know everyone is working
hard, Reece is working hard, and he's in the best hands.'
Finally, Tuchel was asked to provide an assessment on Chelsea's activity
in the January transfer window, which was limited.
There were deadline day links with Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele, who
the German worked with at Borussia Dortmund, but Tuchel insisted that was
just speculation.
'I'm very satisfied because it was a calm window and to be calm is always
the best thing,' he stated. 'We were open for things but I did not have
any contact with Ousmane. There was nothing between us but there is no
frustration.
'I know what kind of quality we would need to add to a strong group. We
trust in the group we have and it's my job to find solutions when we have
injuries.'