Thomas Tuchel hits back at Gary Neville’s claims that Chelsea are ‘panicking’ in the transfer market

Thomas Tuchel has hit back at Gary Neville’s suggestion that new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is ‘panicking’ in the transfer market. 

The US businessman completed his takeover at the end of May and so far this summer has secured the signings of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Carney Chukwuemeka – with Marc Cucurella expected to imminently follow. 

On The Overlap, Neville suggested that Boehly is treating Chelsea ‘like he wants to play Football Manager’ and that the Blues owner is ‘a bit panicky because it feels like he has to do something’. 

But in his press conference ahead of Chelsea’s season opener against Everton, Tuchel defended the LA Dodgers co-owner. 

‘Panicking? No, I would describe it as super hard-working and learning while on the job,’ Tuchel said. ‘The transfer market is one of the toughest things you can do when you come from the outside but I have nothing but compliments and the biggest respect for Todd.’

‘I don’t know when they sleep, I think maybe they never sleep. We have a very honest, open and direct line of communication and the transfers so far speak for themselves. 

‘We have a delay, of course. Nobody is guilty for that delay because of the sanctions, which led to the loss of key players. But both of the owners who are involved in the daily business are doing a fantastic job so far.’

Chelsea finished third in the Premier League last season behind runaway title contenders Manchester City and Liverpool. 

Tuchel was asked whether he felt his side were capable of being contention to lift the trophy this year, but appeared to suggest that it would be unlikely. 

‘I don’t want to put a limit on our expectations right now or put too much pressure on ourselves,’ he said. ‘I don’t think that would help us. I believe we are a club in transition, a team in transition and at the same time I don’t want to limit us from the beginning and say it’s not possible. 

‘Who knows what is possible? It is possible [to go] in both directions, so we should be humble and try hard to be the best version of ourselves. We have the capacity to win games and win consecutive games. 

‘We are very aware of the quality of Liverpool and Manchester City, of Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United. Normally one or two teams step up surprisingly and overperform. This is why the Premier League is so exciting.’