Thomas Tuchel insists it is 'not safe' to keep playing games

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has insisted that is it ‘not safe’ for games to keep being played amid the current COVID-19 situation.

The Blues' 0-0 draw away at Wolves was one of only four top-flight matches that went ahead over the weekend after six others were called off because of mounting positive tests.

Chelsea themselves had also experienced Covid-19 cases ahead of the game, leaving Tuchel with just 14 outfield players available to him on the day, only for the Premier League to reject a request to have it postponed prior to kick-off.

"It is not safe," Tuchel told BBC Sport. "We talk about protecting players and a safe environment but it is not safe. I would be not surprised if the next test shows up and we have more positives. How should it stop if we sit in the bus and have dinners and just stay together like nothing happened?"

Chelsea are back in action on Wednesday night when they face Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, before Premier League action resumes on Boxing Day against Aston Villa.

Tuchel’s side then have further fixtures on 29 December and 2 January.

Reflecting on the 0-0 draw against Wolves, a result that now leaves Chelsea six points off the pace after one win in their last four league games, Antonio Rudiger admitted it felt like a defeat.

“You know our situation, but that point feels like a loss to be honest. It doesn’t matter about the circumstances and everything. It doesn't feel good,” Rudiger said, via ChelseaFC.com.

“Yes of course it is not easy [preparing in our current circumstances], definitely not. We still had a competitive team out there to do something. We came here to win. We should have provided more chances to score, and if you don't bury your chances, it's difficult to win away.”

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