Thomas Tuchel reveals how Cesar Azpilicueta can help Chelsea avoid transfer mistake

Thomas Tuchel claims Chelsea will not rush to make signings in the January transfer window despite understanding he is "running out of options" in defence and at wing-back. Ben Chilwell is ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery and Reece James expected to miss at least another month with a hamstring issue. Meanwhile, Trevoh Chalobah is currently sidelined with a hamstring issue and Andreas Christensen has spent much of the past four weeks on the treatment table with a back problem. Thiago Silva is currently in self-isolation having tested positive for Covid. With these absentees, Blues are interested in signing Everton's Lucas Digne, as well as Barcelona's Sergino Dest. Chelsea's only current fit wing-backs are Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso. And while Tuchel accepts his choices are limited in the wide positions no matter the system the Blues play, he is also adamant that signings shouldn't be made, especially as Azpilicueta is capable of filling in down the right as needed:

"We talk about only one player who suits [different systems] which is Azpi. If we play in a back five, it is Azpi who replaces Reece James. If we play a back four and we may need a bit more of defensive full-back, a bit of a different characteristic to protect the defensive players, it is also Azpi.   "Maybe it is Trevoh Chalobah but Trevoh is out with injury. So we are running out of options. If you talk about Christian Pulisic or Callum Hudson-Odoi, for sure they can only play at wing-back, it is only fair to them.   "It’s not like their preferred position and they cannot show their full potential if they play there, but they can for sure not play full-back. So you lose options, you lose options not only in personnel but in tactics and formation.   "But I will not comment in more on detail in the market. We check our options and in the end, it needs to make sense. It is not only pure numbers to bring in players.   "It needs to be a good mix of high quality, high-level attitude and character. Then it needs to be possible.   "It seems like everybody would love to have it. If we had a full squad I would love to answer this question and say we need nothing. But we have the issue and that’s why we look into it."

  Source - football.london Join us on Telegram!/ Follow us on Twitter!

Thomas Tuchel speaks on Chelsea’s January transfer window plans