Chelsea boss Tuchel ‘can’t imagine’ life without Abramovich after Premier League club put up for sale
- Russian oligarch has been under scrutiny over ties to Vladimir Putin since invasion of Ukraine
- Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and American investor Todd Boehly, a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, among bidders
Thomas Tuchel has admitted he cannot imagine life without Roman Abramovich after the Russian billionaire’s stunning decision to put Chelsea up for sale.
Abramovich has come to the “incredibly difficult” conclusion that he must sell Chelsea amid the political fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The 55-year-old revealed the shock news less than an hour before Chelsea kicked off in their 3-2 FA Cup fifth round win at Luton on Wednesday.
Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and his vast investment helped the west London club win 19 major trophies, including five Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns.
He hired Tuchel in January 2021 and was in Abu Dhabi recently to watch as Chelsea won the Club World Cup for the first time, having already lifted the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup in the German’s reign.
But the Abramovich era at Stamford Bridge is coming to an abrupt end because of the war in Ukraine.