Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been told he would have been fired by Roman Abramovich in any other season after the Blues slipped to a disappointing 2-2 draw against Wolves on Saturday. Much was expected from the west Londoners this season but their campaign is limping towards a disappointing conclusion.
It is one that will not be looked back on with fondness if Saturday's FA Cup final clash with Liverpool ends in defeat as well, with off-field issues overshadowing much of what has happened on the pitch so far in 2022. Abramovich put the club up for sale in February before being sanctioned by the UK Government for alleged links to Vladimir Putin.
It left Chelsea unable to negotiate transfers and contracts, with Antonio Rudiger set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer, with the situation likely having had an impact on the field. Todd Boehly's consortium are expected to complete a takeover by the end of the month but Tuchel has been eager not to use the situation as an excuse.
"No, I don't think ownership is a reason for lack of focus," Tuchel told his press conference. "We showed when the situation began that we can still focus. I would not consider this as an advantage for Leeds as it does not change much for us because the sanctions are not lifted.
"It's not worth thinking about, we have our own stuff to solve and make better. I heard the news this morning, and I was in my match routine, so there was no reaction from me. I have not spoken to anybody yet, but as I said, I was in my morning routine."
Wolves were allowed to come back from two-down on Saturday to steal a point from Stamford Bridge, Conor Coady scoring in second-half injury time to stretch the Blues' winless run to three games as they drew 2-2. Romelu Lukaku had put them in control of the game with a brace but now they are looking nervously over their shoulder at the charging Arsenal and Spurs.
Brutal criticism of Tuchel came after the draw with Wolves from talkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor who insisted that in any other season, the German would have been sacked by Abramovich.
"I think that Chelsea have underachieved this season," the former striker said. "In any other season under Abramovich, Thomas Tuchel would have been sacked for this season’s performance.
“When you look at the quality players that they’ve got and the squad of players that they’ve got; [Hakim] Ziyech, [Kai] Havertz, [Romelu] Lukaku, [Christian] Pulisic; they’ve got so many top, top players and Arsenal's win against Leeds, they’re just one point above Arsenal. Look at the squads of both Arsenal and Chelsea. Tuchel has been disappointing this season and he’s lucky to still be in the job, for me.”
