’I am not a politician’, Tuchel tells journos to stop asking him about war

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel exploded with rage when he has repeatedly asked about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The football world continued to isolate Russia on Tuesday after the country set in motion its invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea last week following a declaration of war by President Vladimir Putin.

The Blues are owned by businessman Roman Abramovich. Ukraine asked him to assist mediate due to his background in Russia, where he reportedly made a fortune in the chaotic 1990s period of post-communist privatisation.

“How often do I need to say it? It’s horrible, of course, it’s horrible, there cannot be any other opinion about it”, a furious Tuchel said in a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s fifth-round cup tie against Luton Town on Wednesday evening.

“Everybody in Europe has some noise in (their) head that nobody likes. Maybe it’s the same for you, but you still try to do your job as good as possible, and it’s the same for us.”

As the presser was about to end, the German mentor interrupted a journalist asking another question about “the horrors of war”.

“Listen, you have to stop. I’m not a politician. You have to stop, honestly,” added Tuchel.

“I can only repeat (myself), and I even feel bad to repeat it because I never experienced war… I’m very privileged. I sit here in peace, and I do the best I can, but you have to stop asking me these questions. I have no answers for you.”