Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits he feels sorry
for rival Chelsea’s manager Thomas Tuchel after the London club were left with
an uncertain future on Thursday.
The club were going to be affected by sanctions imposed on
owner Roman Abramovich.
Guardiola said he was unclear about the implications of the
action brought about by the UK government.
He was unwilling to delve into what it might mean for
European club champions Chelsea.
Long-time Chelsea owner Abramovich was one of seven Russian
oligarchs facing new measures after Thursday’s announcement, and the impact on
Chelsea looks to be significant.
Abramovich, who has previously been photographed with
Russian president Vladimir Putin, has had his assets frozen.
The decision was made in the wake of Russia’s ongoing
invasion of Ukraine.
Chelsea have been granted a special sporting licence to be
able to continue trading as a football club.
But measures have been placed upon the club, including a ban
on selling tickets, with only season-ticket holders permitted to attend
matches.
Guardiola said he did not “know exactly the reason why” the
sanction had been imposed.
But he said he understood the consequences for Tuchel and
his Chelsea playing squad would be challenging.
“Of course with the position for the manager, for Thomas
Tuchel and the players, it’s uncomfortable, and I feel sorry for them because
they’re there to do their job as well as possible,” Guardiola said. “For the
rest, I don’t know, I have to wait.”
Chelsea beat Manchester City in last year’s UEFA Champions
League final.
They sit third in the English Premier League this season,
with Guardiola’s team in a title battle with Liverpool further up the table.
Speaking at a pre-match news conference ahead of Manchester
City’s trip to Crystal Palace, which does not take place until Monday,
Guardiola gave reporters something to think about.
He acknowledged that Premier League managers and head
coaches are often asked about subjects in which they lack specialist knowledge.
“We are the face of the club, we’re here every day, and you
ask freely whatever you want, but you have to understand there are subjects we
don’t know,” the Spaniard said.
“We don’t have a one-hour lesson to speak or talk about what
you’re asking for.
“I’m empathic enough to put (myself) in the position of the
manager of Chelsea and the players. It must be an uncomfortable situation, but
it was this morning’s headlines and I don’t know what’s going to
happen.”(dpa/NAN)
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