Tuchel says Chelsea didn't need January signing as Sarr stepped up
Thomas Tuchel said seeing some of Chelsea players, including Malang Sarr, stepped up recently was part of the reason for their quiet January transfer window.
Many expected the west London outfit to bring in a few players last month given their injury problems.
Ben Chilwell is out for the remainder of the season, and, while Reece James is expected to return soon, Tuchel has confirmed that he will not travel with the rest of the squad to Abu Dhabi for the Club World Cup.
Tuchel did not deny that Chelsea were looking at potential new signings but eventually decided against making any deal.
WEIRDEST European January 2022 Transfers
“Of course, we looked into the transfer market,” the German said in Friday’s press conference (via Chelsea’s official website).
“Of course, we were informed what is possible. Of course, people offered us players.
“But you have to calm down the noise around it, and it has to make sense.
“To make sense you need a big package because you need the quality, the personality, and the position.
“Players like Malang Sarr stepped up when they played lately so considering the opportunities, it left us with the decision not to do anything, and it was a decision we took together.”
Tuchel trusts players at his disposal at Chelsea
It seems that Tuchel was not convinced by the options available in the market in January.
To be fair, Sarr looked very promising as a left full-back in the last few games he played in that position.
While for left wing-back options, Chelsea have recently recalled Kenedy, whom Tuchel had kept an eye on for quite some time, from his loan spell at Flamengo.
“Everybody needs to step up and of course, the group is not very big, we can struggle when we have injuries,” he admitted.
“But if there are doubts [over a transfer in], I have learned better not to do it and to trust in what we have.
“Also my job is to find solutions and bring out the best in all of us.”