Hudson-odoi in line for start after Tuchel clears the air

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Callum Hudsonodoi has reacted well to his Southampton humiliation and could start against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League tonight.

Tuchel admitted he took a risk by substituting Hudson-odoi 30 minutes after sending him on at halftime in the draw at Southampton. But after explaining his decision to the Chelsea squad, Tuchel is confident Hudson-odoi will be ready to face Atletico in the last-16 match if called upon.

Tuchel, who revealed Chelsea would still be without central defender Thiago Silva in Bucharest, said: “We decided to speak to [Hudson-odoi] in front of the whole group because I had my reasons to do it. Was it the right decision? I don’t know, but it was my decision at this moment. For us in the group, we spoke as a whole group to not make it bigger than it is because for us it was not a big thing.

“I know it could be sometimes and sometimes you reflect why you do it, should you do it, because sometimes the media and family make it bigger than it was meant.

“So I did it and we had the only reaction that we wanted. He went back to normal mood, to a good mood, to a smile, to training and the next day very, very good training and today. And that’s it.

“I already said after the game this was the decision for today, this was the lesson to learn for him and for me also, and then it is forgotten. That is absolutely the way so, here at Cobham, between us two, between me and the team, it is business as usual and no big thing.”

Asked specifically whether Hudson-odoi would travel to Bucharest

and if he could start against Atletico, Tuchel replied: “Yes, that’s right.”

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta believes Hudson-odoi will learn from his treatment and respond in the right way.

“Obviously, it is not nice to come on and be subbed after 25 or 30 minutes,” Azpilicueta said. “That is obvious and the manager made it clear. What was important was to see his reaction afterwards. A positive reaction. I am sure he will get better, he will get stronger. He is a young lad.

“When you face these kinds of situations the most important thing is the reaction and straight away, the next day in training, the manager said the incident was over, he talked through it and that was it.

“Now we have another challenge. Callum is a strong boy. I am sure he will get better. He is a very important player for us, as we saw in the recent games, he has played every game under the new manager.”

Azpilicueta and Chelsea will have to try to stop former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, whom Tuchel confirmed he tried to sign for Paris St-germain before the Uruguayan joined Atletico last summer.

But Tuchel does not expect to revive his interest at Chelsea, saying: “He maybe would’ve been a fit for our squad in Paris. Now things are different. He is under contract at Atletico Madrid and it’s not worth thinking about it honestly. I haven’t and the possibility is high we won’t think about it [signing Suarez in the future].”