Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, second left, poses with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta during the Champions League trophy presentations at last season's final match. PA
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, second left, poses with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta during the Champions League trophy presentations at last season's final match. PA
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, second left, poses with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta during the Champions League trophy presentations at last season's final match. PA
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, second left, poses with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta during the Champions League trophy presentations at last season's final match. PA

Chelsea boss Tuchel praises 'special owner' Abramovich


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Thomas Tuchel has described how Chelsea owner is "in love" with with the game and how he keeps constant tabs on the Premier League leaders' progress.

Russian billionaire Abramovich was in London to host Israeli president Isaac Herzog at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and may stay on to see Chelsea at home against Italian giants Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"Is he a special owner? I think, first and most importantly, he's a football fan, a huge football fan," Tuchel said.

"He is in love with the game, he's in love with the details, he wants to know everything about what's going on here in Cobham [Chelsea's training ground].

"And we keep him posted, because he has such a genuine interest and love for the game.

"This is the most important and this makes things very special."

Abramovich's Chelsea takeover in 2003 triggered a seismic shift in power in the Premier League.

  • Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich together after winning the Uefa Champions League. EPA
    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich together after winning the Uefa Champions League. EPA
  • Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich poses with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta and the Ueefa Champions League trophy following Chelsea's win over Manchester City in the final. PA
    Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich poses with club captain Cesar Azpilicueta and the Ueefa Champions League trophy following Chelsea's win over Manchester City in the final. PA
  • Chelsea defender Thiago Silva celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters
    Chelsea defender Thiago Silva celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters
  • Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters
    Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters
  • Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich with Thiago Silva after winning the Uefa Champions League. Getty Images
    Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich with Thiago Silva after winning the Uefa Champions League. Getty Images
  • Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters
    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel celebrates with owner Roman Abramovich after winning the Champions League. Reuters
  • Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich celebrates on the pitch after the Uefa Champions League final. PA
    Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich celebrates on the pitch after the Uefa Champions League final. PA
  • Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on the pitch following Chelsea's victory in the Champions League final. PA
    Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on the pitch following Chelsea's victory in the Champions League final. PA
  • Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on the pitch following Chelsea's victory in the Champions League final. PA
    Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich on the pitch following Chelsea's victory in the Champions League final. PA
  • Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich celebrates on the pitch after the Champions League final. PA
    Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich celebrates on the pitch after the Champions League final. PA

He brought Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge in 2004, with the Portuguese boss winning the Premier League title in his first season in charge as the Blues ended a 50-year wait to be crowned champions of England.

Since then Chelsea have won four more Premier League titles, the Champions League and Europa League twice plus eight domestic cups.

Tuchel added: "He wants to be competitive and he wants to have the right attitude on the pitch.

"That is what he has created here, it's amazing, and we are blessed to enjoy our time here at this club and to keep on progressing, this is what we do."

  • Juventus' Belgian defender Koni De Winter attends a training session in Turin on the eve of their Champions League match against Chelsea. AFP
    Juventus' Belgian defender Koni De Winter attends a training session in Turin on the eve of their Champions League match against Chelsea. AFP
  • Juventus' forward Alvaro Morata and manager Massimiliano Allegri train for their match against Chelsea. AFP
    Juventus' forward Alvaro Morata and manager Massimiliano Allegri train for their match against Chelsea. AFP
  • Weston McKennie, left, and Paulo Dybala attend a training session at the Continassa training ground in Turin. AFP
    Weston McKennie, left, and Paulo Dybala attend a training session at the Continassa training ground in Turin. AFP
  • Juventus' defender Leonardo Bonucci trains in Turin. AFP
    Juventus' defender Leonardo Bonucci trains in Turin. AFP
  • Paulo Dybala trains on Monday. AFP
    Paulo Dybala trains on Monday. AFP
  • Juventus' forward Moise Kean attends a training session. AFP
    Juventus' forward Moise Kean attends a training session. AFP

Abramovich was present to witness Chelsea's 1-0 win over Premier League rivals Manchester City in the Champions League final in Porto in May, but Tuchel said whether he turned up on Tuesday would have no bearing on his side's approach to the game.

"Put on a show for him? No, our show is the basics, the basics are our show," said Tuchel. "We give our very best if the owner is here or not here.

"If he's not here I know he will watch and follow us closely. And so we put on a show on a daily basis and by putting on a show I mean hard work. That's to make him happy and to entertain him, but also all our supporters."

Updated: November 23, 2021, 5:47 AM