Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says that while Chelsea’s players and employees “are not responsible” for the current situation at the club, he feels it was the right thing to sanction Roman Abramovich.
Abramovich was added to the sanctions list on Thursday, meaning his assets were frozen – including Chelsea Football Club.
With all the uncertainty that has come as a result of these new sanctions, the day to day running of the club has been impacted, affecting various facets of operations.
It’s a situation that may have had their say on including the likes of Patrick Vieira, Graham Potter and Eddie Howe so far, and now top four rival Klopp has weighed in on the issue.
Klopp, who knows Tuchel well from his days in Germany and their recent encounter against each other, says that the Blues staff are not at fault.
“It’s not a situation all the employees at Chelsea are responsible for. One man is and that’s Putin,” Klopp said in his pre-Brighton press conference on Friday morning via the Liverpool Echo.
“I don’t know about Roman Abramovich’s role in all this but you can say he is close. I think what the Government did is right.”
A similar sentiment that was shared by fellow top four manager Pep Guardiola who admitted it is an “uncomfortable” situation right now for Tuchel and co.
“I don’t have an opinion, it’s rumours of what’s happened and I don’t know what’s going to happen next time,” Guardiola said in his press conference ahead of Manchester City’s clash against Crystal Palace.
“Of course, with the position for the manager Thomas Tuchel and the players, it’s uncomfortable and I feel sorry for them as they are there do their jobs as best as possible.
“For the rest, I don’t know, I have to wait.”