MX23RW : Friday, April 19 08:17:33| >> :120:27198:27198:

Thomas Tuchel claims it was easy to not let Callum Hudson-Odoi leave Chelsea

Tuchel claims it was easy to not let Hudson-Odoi leave
© Reuters
Thomas Tuchel insists that he found it easy to keep Callum Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea during the summer, despite interest in the winger from abroad and in the Premier League.

Thomas Tuchel has insisted that he had no question marks over his decision to keep Callum Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea for this season, despite interest from elsewhere.

The young winger was involved in a lot of transfer speculation over the summer, with reports that both Borussia Dortmund and Leicester City were interested in acquiring his services.

Despite the rumours surrounding him, Hudson-Odoi has stayed in London for another season, with Tuchel making it clear that he has no interest in letting him leave, as he is a key part of his squad.

The Chelsea boss told reporters: "We have spoken. It was a very easy decision for me to make on the last day of the transfer period. We cannot afford to let a player leave who is in the 18/19 man squad. He is able to play as a right wing-back, a left wing-back in the two 10 positions. He knows the group, we know him very well. There was no chance to say yes on the last day.

"For him personally it may have been a good opportunity but for us and our targets that we want to achieve, it was simply impossible. It was an easy one for me actually."

The Chelsea academy graduate was able to start his first game of the season against Aston Villa at the weekend, playing a part in the 3-0 victory.

While he was initially used as a wing-back, Hudson-Odoi did get the chance to progress further up the pitch later in the game as the German coach pushed him on into a forward position, before he was replaced by Timo Werner.

ID:463569:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect2169:

Click here for more stories about Thomas Tuchel

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Netherlands and Ajax defender Jurrien Timber pictured in June 2021
Read Next:
Tottenham 'open talks with Ajax over January Timber move'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!