Transfer Centre

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel reveals Ousmane Dembele admiration

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 21 January 2022

Tuchel admits Dembele admiration, plays down transfer talk

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel refuses to speak on a possible move for Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele, despite acknowledging his admiration for the player.

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has revealed that is regretful of having only spent one year working with Ousmane Dembele during their time at Borussia Dortmund.

At a time when Dembele is currently free to depart Barcelona after heated exchanges between the two parties on Thursday, Chelsea are being heavily linked with an approach before the end of the month.

During the 2016-17 campaign, Dembele contributed 10 goals and 22 assists from 50 appearances, an output which earned him a move to Camp Nou.

While refusing to comment on links with the France international, Tuchel has acknowledged that he would have liked to have worked with the winger for longer.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Tuchel said: "He is a very good player when he is at his top level. I was very fortunate to have trained him for one year at Dortmund, it should have been more, but I needed to leave and he decided to leave.

"From there, we are not in closest contact. We met here and there because of his duties for the French national team and I was in Paris. This is where we met, or exchanged some messages.

"But, he is in a situation. I have absolutely no idea why he is in that situation and I have absolutely no idea in detail what the situation is. I know how I feel when it is about my players, so it is better not to talk."

With less than six months remaining on his contract, Dembele is free to hold discussions with any foreign club.