Tuchel tough on Abraham
THOMAS TUCHEL’S message to Tammy Abraham was stark and brutal, ‘There is no easy way of getting back into my team.’
The Chelsea manager has admitted that Abraham, who is still amazingly his club’s top scorer with 12 goals this season, has had a rough ride since he took over.
But the German warned he does not pick his teams on sentiment.
Abraham, now fit again after a month out with an ankle problem, is almost certain to be on the bench again today at Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, £47m Timo Werner – with two goals in 33 games for club and country – could get another run out.
Abraham is yet to complete 90 minutes in a league game for Tuchel and needs matches to stay in England manager Gareth Southgate’s plans for Euro 2020.
Tuchel said: “I cannot make decisions based on the personal goals of the players. Kepa has also the personal goal of playing for Spain but this can never influence my decisions.
“Tammy had a rough time because he started games and was subbed for tactical reasons.
“He could not have the impact he demands from himself and that we wish from him.
“Then he was injured and the squad played very well without him.
“Now we enter the decisive part of the season, where it is not so easy to bring back players who were injured.
“It is on Tammy to do everything possible.
“He is using every minute to convince us he needs to be on the pitch.
“Hopefully he stays fit and will play a key role.”
West Ham are watching Abraham’s situation closely but Tuchel added: “From the first minute I arrived, I saw a bright young man, who is self-confident and has a lot of talent.
“But it cannot be that in a period of good results that suddenly the guys who don’t play are the winners. If you are in a winning squad, you have your part.
“Tammy is totally hungry to turn things around. Is now the moment to do crazy stuff and try things? I’m not so sure. Tammy suffers the circumstances. Maybe it’s not his fault, but it’s also not our fault.
“He’s the top scorer but if you look at the data since we are here, it will maybe tell you a different story.”