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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
James Robson

Chelsea: Thomas Tuchel insists Marcos Alonso row is over and explains decision to cancel squad day off

Thomas Tuchel insists he has cleared the air with Marcos Alonso after the Chelsea pair were involved in an exchange on Saturday.

The manager also denied claims the row had carried on into the dressing room at half-time, after Tuchel was visibly upset with Alonso during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Wolves.

The wing-back was then substituted for Saul Niguez at the break. But despite allegations of a further bust-up, Tuchel insists the issue was cleared up immediately.

The German said: “It started and ended in the first half. [It] was not continued at half-time. Nothing else. Things are solved. That happens.”

Tuchel also ordered his players in for extra training on Sunday, despite initially giving them the day off.

He explained: “We came in. We planned a free day, but after the disappointment it was not even to punish them. It was normally a free day and maybe some felt it was a punishment. It wasn’t.

“It was not the moment for a free day, it is better to be together and talk about it than to go and everybody has his own opinion, own truth.

“You have more risk to be in fragments than to be here. We did very light training, had a run together and discussed things, how to approach the next days.

“We brought everybody together to have the chance to be together. A lot of players supported the Under-23s on the other pitch which was very nice.

“That’s what we are. [A] very supportive, open minded group of players. That’s what it felt like on Sunday. That’s what the Sunday morning was for, not to punish them or do a video session and show the mistakes or behaviour we could have done better.

“It was just to be together and not in different groups away from each other on a free day. That’s why we put everybody in.”

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