Alonso’s lone stand against racism has backing of Tuchel
THOMAS TUCHEL says he supports Marcos Alonso’s decision to stop taking the knee before Chelsea matches.
Blues defender Alonso has explained he will continue to stand and point to the ‘No To Racism’ badge on his shirt, but believes the gesture of taking the knee has lost some of its impact.
And now Chelsea boss Tuchel has backed the full-back, insisting the 30-year-old Spaniard is ‘absolutely committed against racism’.
Chelsea’s other players are expected to continue to take the knee before matches, but Tuchel is confident Alonso’s motives are solely positive in the fight against discrimination.
‘It wasn’t a discussion within the group but of course if a player takes a decision like this, we are not in a bubble, so of course discussions come up,’ said Tuchel.
‘The most important thing for me is that I know Marcos personally and I trust 1,000 per cent that he is absolutely committed against racism, any form of racism.
‘And there is no question about it. We are all against it. We took altogether the decision to take the knee.
‘Maybe it takes sometimes an action against a routine to wake up again and have another good discussion and the discussion takes a new direction.
Because we want to do the most we can against racism and stand up against it. Marcos took his decision, he’s a grown up, a responsible person. This is his decision and we accept it, and he gave his reasons for it. And from here the discussion can end or it can go on in a productive way.
‘The most important thing for me is we live it every single day and this is what we do in Cobham.’
Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha stopped taking the knee last season, opting to stand instead in his own protest against racism and discrimination.
Asked if he could understand Alonso’s reasoning, Tuchel, whose team host Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup tonight, said: ‘There are so many games maybe it becomes normal, maybe it lowers the effect of it. If this is his point I can see his point.
‘I think Marcos’ point is it cannot end like this, it cannot become normal. I understand Marcos thinks there is always more to do, and it’s also right.’