Thomas Tuchel explains how the lack of fans will affect Chelsea’s quest for the Cup double

Chelsea have booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals and Champions League quarter-finals and Thomas Tuchel opened up the possibility of not having fans to support them

Will Wembley be half-empty for the FA Cup semi-finals, with Chelsea Banned from selling tickets to fans? Or will all tickets go to their opponents while 80,000 spectators cheer against them?

While Thomas Tuchel and its players deliver rock-solid world-class brilliance on the pitch, government licensing sanctions bring uncertainty to every game they advance in the Football Association’s flagship competition.

Wembley is the next battleground after Mason Mount’s two assists Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech scored early and secured a smooth win. Chelsea bid for his 5th FA Cup Finals in the last six seasons – the only one they’ve won was in 2018 vs Manchester United.

It’s a record they need to set and whether or not they have fans in the stadium, according to Tuchel, who wants the club sold ‘as soon as possible’, Chelsea are unlikely to be thrown off course. He said, “If (the sales process) becomes crucial and crucial, then it’s enough for me to know. The offers are now in and the board is trying to find a decision with the government as soon as possible.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to show the right spirit and a positive attitude and not to feel sorry for ourselves and worry about a situation that we did not cause and cannot change. So it’s still a pleasure to go to training and do what we do in such a supportive environment. That’s my feeling about it.

“We cannot influence the situation and we cannot change the situation. We had to find a level of acceptance of the situation and refocus on what we can influence. This is our achievement. The good thing is that from day one I found a very ambitious club and a huge staff determined to push the players to their best.

“This includes focus, respectful behavior and team spirit. These are the things we now rely on and trust. It is impressive.”

Chelsea sealed that game after 15 minutes, Hakim Ziyech freeing Mason Mount down the right wing. There was no Boro challenge in sight. Then Dael Fry’s cross failed and Lukaku, who hasn’t scored in the league since 29 December but has become a cup specialist, knocked.

This was his third in the FA Cup and in the calendar years he also scored twice at the Club World Cup, but not in the league. Ziyech scored the second goal after 31 minutes, in a full-length, four-pass stroke. The Moroccan fired an evasive goal past Joe Lumley. “It was nice to celebrate my birthday with a goal,” he said. Both gates were created by the imperious mountain.

Boro were oddly flat compared to their heroics in the preliminary rounds Manchester United and spores. Chelsea are on a different level and regret a dip in form in December. There are now 12 wins in 13 games – the only defeat was in the Carabao Cup on penalties.

When asked if he was involved in “crisis management”, Tuchel said: “I’m absolutely fine. There are people who worry, who don’t want the spotlight, or who are as privileged as I am. There are 700/800 people who work at Chelsea who are more concerned.” They may be existentially worried about what’s going to happen, asking if they can stay at the club and what’s going to happen at the club.

Tuchel has commented on Chelsea’s hopes for a return First League title race. After 12 wins in 13 games, Tuchel was asked to join Liverpool and Manchester City in the race for the top spot. Chelsea will be eight points behind City and seven behind Liverpool if they win their game in hand.

But he’s realistic, joking that his rivals have a “three-year” winning streak, not just 13 games. He said: “The problem is that they (Man City and Liverpool) have also been on the run for a long time. They’re like three years on the run! I have a feeling and it seems like their three years are in the running, our 13 games isn’t enough. We have to be honest.

“We will never admit anything until things are decided. We will always strive and push our limits. There’s nothing else we can do but we shouldn’t get carried away with two teams taking advantage of our problems so full credit to them, they deserve to be where they are and we need to make sure we have as many get points as possible.

“We work hard for luck, but we accept that when you’ve had a winning streak like ours, luck is also needed. During that period you mention, where the gap between Liverpool and City opened up for us, there were injuries. Unfortunately we had to struggle with long-term injuries and Corona. We arrived with 14 players at a time wolves after Coronavirus.

“There was a time that hit us hard when players had to isolate for 10 or 12 days with symptoms. That was a rule and we struggled with it. But the attitude has always been. But still, the mentality is good, the quality is good and after the Club World Cup I felt that we went back to training more fluidly and with more rhythm and that the level has increased to an unbelievable level. From then on we had a good feeling and I’m glad I was right.”