Thomas Tuchel believes players can fulfil "any dream" they have at Chelsea and says Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger will not be able to find an upgrade on the Blues should they decide to leave when their contracts expire in the summer.
Talks to extend the deals of Christensen and Rudiger – both of whom have thrived under Tuchel – have taken place throughout this season but no agreement has been found between Chelsea and the centre-back duo. It is a similar story with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
Rudiger has reportedly courted interest from Ligue 1 giants PSG and German champions Bayern Munich. Real Madrid have also been linked with the 29-year-old.
Christensen, meanwhile, is understood to be closing in on a free transfer to Barcelona. If the Dane does depart in the summer, it will bring an end to his Chelsea career that has spanned ten years.
There was perhaps a time – and not too long ago – that a move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich could be argued as a step up. However, the Blues are not only reigning European champions but are also world champions after their triumph in the Club World Cup last month.
Tuchel accepts that there are a number of factors that can lead to a player deciding to leave Chelsea, but he insists they will not find a better club to represent in Europe.
“There are several [kinds of] step up," the German said ahead of Chelsea's trip to Norwich City. "You can have a step up financially, you can have a step up in perspective of having more minutes or the statutes of the other team. So there are many, many step-ups.
"In general, from my experience here and where I've come from, there cannot be a bigger improvement at any other club in terms of organisation, the support for the players, the mentality, the competition in which you play. I don’t see an upgrade in any other club.
"Of course, if you want to have the challenge of a new league, if you want to have the challenge of all this and maybe also in money, there are for sure possibilities always available if you’re a top, top player.
"But you can fulfil any dream here at this club and I do not think we should not hide from that. We should not be too humble in that. I think we can fight for any player and we have good, good reasons to provide that players stay.”
Tuchel added: "It's very important the club draws a line at some point, to not be totally in the hands of whoever asks for whatever.
"[We should] make it clear what they have, and not only the first team dressing room which is fancy to be in. It's the opposite. It is a very down-to-earth environment here but it's at the highest level. It is functional, a club you want to be at and bring your very best as a coach or as a player.
"From my perspective, that is something you cannot balance with money. This feeling, this structure, this competitive environment, with the quality of life in this city where we have the quality of education and so on. it is such a huge level that the club provides here.
"I don’t see the point where money can compensate. But of course, if it’s a big difference then maybe someone else has another opinion."
Throughout this season, Rudiger's stance has been clear as to what it will take for Chelsea to keep him at Stamford Bridge – namely, a significant pay rise.
Christensen's situation is more complicated. Twice the Blues have felt an agreement has been reached only for the defender to not sign and then the terms to have been altered.
It's led to an impasse, one that increasingly looks unlikely to be resolved. And that will mean Christensen departs and in all likelihood for Barcelona.
Tuchel is adamant he will not take that to heart. But he does believe the 25-year-old is passing up a huge opportunity to prove himself one of Europe's finest defenders at Chelsea.
"I don’t want to point a finger at any player and say what they are doing is unacceptable. It is a contractual situation," Tuchel said. "At some point, a player will come and say they want to leave, but I say, 'No you can’t leave as you have a contract'. So everybody is respectful of the contract situation.
"Now if he leaves, he leaves for free. No club in the world likes that. But if you say he owes us, that would make it personal and for me, it can not affect us personally. This is a contractual situation and he has the right to do so.
"I think in this particular case, there is no need to go because he is right at the edge of taking the next one, two, three, steps at Chelsea. I don’t think he is done here.
"That is why I strongly recommended to him not to go before it is done [at the club]. And it is clearly not done as he has now a situation with the formation [that suits him], the partners at his side, his status, and his age. This is the moment.
"I can not understand if he leaves at exactly this moment. But like I said, it is not my decision and I would not be personally affected by it. He stays my player and that is it. We are talking about sports and sometimes you need to swallow a defeat."
