FLORIDA CUP: CHELSEA FC VS. CLUB AMéRICA

July 15, 2022

Thomas Tuchel

Allegiant Stadium

Chelsea FC

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good evening. We'll take questions.

Q. When I last asked you about Kalidou Koulibaly, he was in London for his medical and you smiled and said you couldn't talk about him. Now he's on his way to Las Vegas. What will he bring to Chelsea when he does arrive?

THOMAS TUCHEL: Listen, it's on its way. Until it's not over the finish line, until it's not announced, it's too early to speak about it. I'm so sorry.

Q. You've been quite clear that defensive recruitment is your priority. How close are you to adding more numbers on that side?

THOMAS TUCHEL: More numbers, we're working. We're working on it. But, you know, I mean, everybody is wishing for having the complete team in pre-season. But this is almost never happening. That's why we're working on it.

We're working as fast and very intense on it, as fast as possible. But at the same time we're relaxed. We know what we have to offer. At the same time we're focused on the players who are here because that's in general the most important.

Q. Raheem Sterling, we have not yet had the chance to see him training with you. You've worked with him for a couple of days. What have you seen from him?

THOMAS TUCHEL: Well, he's in an individual program. He did join the team because the team has some that are two weeks ahead of him in some training sessions, double training sessions, training sessions ahead of him. It's not the moment when he joins full team training every minute. You will see him today on the pitch.

I mean, it's pretty obvious what he delivers, and it's exactly what we see on the pitch. I have the feeling he's absolutely happy to be here. It's a new chapter for him. He's ready to fill this chapter in his career.

It's relaxed first days. He's in an individual program, which is pretty demanding, but on a different level than all the others. He will join training today because it's not that intense today.

Q. On Raheem, will he be able to feature tomorrow? There's been pictures of Armando Broja with a protective boot on. What injury has he picked up?

THOMAS TUCHEL: He had like a little accident yesterday in training with ball control, and landed in a funny way on his ankle and on his Achilles. He is in pain, but nothing major.

We did all the examinations, and it's just pain. He's lucky that he did not get injured. We are lucky and happy that he did not injure himself. So he will not be in training. He's in treatment, Armando.

For Raheem tomorrow, we have not decided yet the lineup. But, as I said, he did not train every minute with the team, so it's not very likely that he will play tomorrow.

Q. In recent days we have seen news about Chelsea's interest in Cristiano Ronaldo. If his name was considered in your playing for this season?

THOMAS TUCHEL: If we considered his name?

Well, he's a fantastic player. He's a fantastic player for another fantastic club in our competition, in Premier League. Out of respect, we don't comment on these players because we don't like other coaches to speak about our players.

So this is where it has to stay. We focused on our top target, Raheem Sterling, which we could sign, and everything else stays behind closed doors.

Q. What do you know about American Mexican league?

THOMAS TUCHEL: Not so much, to be very honest. But the interest in general in Mexican football comes from individual players, of course. There have been many players in the German Bundesliga who have made their name, many players who have had a big career abroad.

We are very well aware of the individual quality and of the enthusiasm. We are very well aware of the importance of the national team of Mexico and how strong they are in every World Cup and how competitive.

I don't have a full overview over the Mexican league, to be very honest. But of course now we analyzed our opponent, had a look at our opponent. But the moment in pre-season is also the moment to focus on us and give our players and our situation the full support and the full focus.

America is playing already in the league. They are in a different physical situation than us. Normally they're usually very physical, very aggressive team.

Let's see with big names and big personalities. So let's see how this will work out. But we expect an intense match tomorrow.

Q. It's emerged that Nathan Ake is staying at Man City. Any indication about your disappointment about that because he was one of the players you were after? West Ham have made a bid for Armando. Can you tell me if Armando is part of your plans?

THOMAS TUCHEL: Armando is our player, first of all. We have at the moment no interest in selling him. He is here to make an impression after he was on loan in Southampton. So that's his situation. That's where we look up front.

It's good if there's interest. It shows us there is a talent and a potential. But still Armando is in the position to impress and to impress as a Chelsea player and to become a Chelsea player. When? Nobody knows, but hopefully as soon as possible.

He now got injured. There's a bit of a delay for him. It's never nice because the young players should normally make an impression during pre-season and from the first, very first, minute. Now we have a little bit of delay in that. But that's actually the situation.

For Nathan Ake, it's the same. For Ronaldo, we will not comment, even if it was a nice try (smiling).

Q. We know this is pre-season; it's all about hard work. Given that we are in Vegas, will the players be given any time to enjoy themselves?

THOMAS TUCHEL: I think you will see maybe some players tomorrow after the match. But before the match is also the moment to focus and stay together as a team and to take it serious because we don't have that many matches.

When we wear a Chelsea shirt we are obliged to our goals and our demands to ourselves, to our supporters to give our very best. This is what it is if you play and work for Chelsea.

Until tomorrow evening we are focused and do everything to prepare the match in the best possible way. Then we have the flight to Orlando the next day, and there will be, of course, some private time for the players.

Q. How important is it for the young players here to try and make a stand and try to copy what Trevor Chalobah, who is going to speak next, did?

THOMAS TUCHEL: Exactly. He's the role model. He came, took his chance, and started in the Super Cup against Villarreal last season. That's what it's all about. You can discuss and make plans for all these players, but they're not worth the paper you write them on because it can change every minute, it can change in any training, and you have simply to be ready.

I think all the young players and all the players who come from loan or from different situations and want to make a statement here, they are more than invited, they're supported, and we're open. But they're well aware the task is very, very high because the group is competitive and the group is strong.

Still I feel that everybody is proud to be back and proud to be in the Chelsea squad. From there they are responsible for their own career and they have our full support.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, everybody.