Thomas Tuchel is hell-bent on reaching Lille one way or another, regardless, for their Champions League clash in view of the inconveniences posed by the curtailments imposed recently on Chelsea by the UK government, such as the club spending on travelling to away matches being limited to £20,000, which would be problematic for sending a large contingent to Europe.
Although the Blues’ itinerary had until recently appeared to be in doubt for their date with a leading French club, Tuchel has actually confirmed the North London club still intends to fly to Lille for the second leg of their Champions League clash against last season’s Ligue 1 champions.
The 48-year-old German head coach even suggested he would be happy to personally drive a seven-seater if push came shove if he had no other alternatives.
He said: “My last information is we are getting a plane. So we can go by plane and come back by plane. If not, we’ll go by train. If not, we’ll go by bus. If not, I’ll drive a seven-seater. Honestly, I will do it. You can mark my words, I will do it to arrive there.
“If you asked me 20 years ago, 30 years ago, if I would join a Champions League match at the sideline and what I was willing to do, I’d say, ‘ok, where do I have to be and when?’ Why should this change?
“I will be there and we will be there. Of course, organisation wise, there are some negotiations going on and talks, but it doesn’t influence me. That’s what I mean, we have brilliant guys who organise the travel and we have, in every department, such committed people that at the moment things feel pretty normal.”
The Blues boss did acknowledge however that preparations have had to change in some areas pertaining to the club but was quick to point out that the team around him in the club has meant little has changed for him.
He said: “I think practically changed more for the guys who for example organised the journey to Lille because they had to figure out how we arrive there.
“And we demand it, from everybody, because this is what makes Chelsea special, and Chelsea a top club. It’s a commitment, quality of support and a commitment from everybody in the whole building.
“In the end, that’s the foundation, or maybe the top of a strong, strong club. This is what we try to maintain. So it has not changed so much. At the moment it’s the same.”