Thomas Tuchel admits that Callum Hudson-Odoi is likely to be frustrated at his role with Chelsea at the current moment as reports have claimed he could be sent on loan this season. Hudson-Odoi also turned down a call-up to the England U21s squad next month. Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool this weekend, Tuchel seemed to hint that CHO had not played in the summer friendlies quite like how he was performing in training.
Thomas Tuchel said: “From the first day in pre-season, I saw him on a different level coming back but struggling a bit to produce the same performances on the pitch in the friendly games. He started I think every friendly match and the Super Cup for us as a wing-back and sometimes there are these little moments where you can turn your career upside down if he performs like he performed in training. To be absolutely fair, I have to say that sometimes we use him as a right side wing-back which is not his very best position but we do it because in the Super Cup match, he had a good pre-season and all the training in his legs so he had the capacity to play the 120 minutes. He waits for a chance in the half left position but he fights against Mason [Mount], Kai [Havertz], Hakim [Ziyech], Christian Pulisic, a lot of guys with a lot of quality. It is very hard for him. I agree but we don’t have to feel sorry for him. Once the door is open we demand he goes in between and makes his mark. This can happen at any time. He needs to be ready, this is what we demand from him.”
