TUCHEL MAY MISS OUT ON CLUB WORLD CUP EVENT

THOMAS TUCHEL faces a race against time and a battle to beat Covid in order to be involved in this week’s Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi after he tested positive and missed Chelsea’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Plymouth yesterday.

Chelsea flew out Abu Dhabi last night for the week-long trip, where they aim to be crowned world club champions, having qualified by winning the Champions League last May.

But they will be without their head coach who may have to miss the entire tournament and who is planning to deliver team talks and preparation via Zoom, with assistant Arno Michels, who stepped up yesterday, in charge on the ground.

A club statement shortly before kick-off confirmed Tuchel’s absence. ‘He will now follow necessary self-isolation protocols and hopes to join up with the team in Abu Dhabi later next week,’ it read.

The earliest Tuchel could travel is Thursday, with Chelsea due to play the winners of today’s match between

Al-Jazira and Al-Hilal in a semi-final on Wednesday, with a potential final on Saturday.

However, Tuchel can only end his isolation on Thursday if he tests negative and Abu Dhabhi guidelines state visitors travelling from the UK must have a negative PCR test before arrival and another negative test on arrival.

Michels took charge of Chelsea’s narrow win over Plymouth, which required extra time, and said: ‘I don’t know what the situation is with Thomas and when he’ll be back.

‘He has to follow the government rules and is in self-isolation, so we will look forward to the next few days.’

Michels was in constant communication with Tuchel, who is not understood to have any severe symptoms.

The stand-in boss confirmed another blow for Chelsea, after Mason Mount limped off in extra-time.

‘Mason felt a muscle injury when having a shot and felt pain,’ he said.

‘We will see and do tests. Hopefully it’s not too bad.’