{"id":3657,"date":"2022-04-02T06:59:48","date_gmt":"2022-04-02T06:59:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/linksus.net\/thomas-tuchel-cesar-azpilicuetas-contract-extension-good-news-for-chelsea-the-independent\/"},"modified":"2022-04-02T06:59:48","modified_gmt":"2022-04-02T06:59:48","slug":"thomas-tuchel-cesar-azpilicuetas-contract-extension-good-news-for-chelsea-the-independent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/linksus2.linksus.net\/index.php\/2022\/04\/02\/thomas-tuchel-cesar-azpilicuetas-contract-extension-good-news-for-chelsea-the-independent\/","title":{"rendered":"Thomas Tuchel: Cesar Azpilicueta\u2019s contract extension good news for Chelsea – The Independent"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Thomas Tuchel<\/a> believes Chelsea have thwarted Barcelona\u2019s attempts to sign Cesar Azpilicueta, after the Blues skipper triggered an extension to his Stamford Bridge<\/a> contract.
Chelsea boss Tuchel confirmed Azpilicueta\u2019s one-year contract addition, that has been triggered by an appearance-related clause.
Barcelona<\/a> expect to sign Andreas Christensen<\/a> from Chelsea on a free transfer this summer, were hopeful of recruiting Azpilicueta too \u2013 and this week have met with Toni Rudiger\u2019s agents.
Tuchel believes the Catalan<\/a> giants will be unable to pull off a triple swoop on Chelsea defenders however, with the German now tipping Azpilicueta to extend his stay in west London beyond the summer.
Asked about Azpilicueta\u2019s contract extension, Tuchel replied: \u201cYes, I knew it was going to happen because I knew the amount of games when it was going to happen. It\u2019s a good thing; it\u2019s good news for us.\u201d
Asked if he expects Azpilicueta to be at Chelsea next season, Tuchel continued: \u201cYes, absolutely. We have a contract, he\u2019s our captain, so there\u2019s a very high probability that he will stay.
\u201cI knew it all the time that this is very likely to happen. He\u2019s a regular starter for us. You know how much I rely on him and how much impact he has on this club and this group. So it\u2019s very good for us.\u201d
Denmark international Christensen still remains out of contract at the end of the season however, and is expected to join Barcelona.
The Catalan bosses have hinted that a deal for Christensen is already done, but Tuchel remained coy on his situation.
\u201cWe heard the rumours, we heard the same rumours,\u201d said Tuchel.
\u201cI have no confirmation for you because I did not speak to A about it at the moment. But we heard the same rumours.\u201d
Barca representatives have met with Rudiger\u2019s agents this week, but Tuchel has refused to give up hope of convincing the Germany international to commit his future to the Blues.
Chelsea cannot sign or sell any players under the terms of their current UK Government licence, in light of owner Roman Abramovich\u2019s Downing Street sanctions.
Abramovich was sanctioned by the Government on March 10, with four rival consortiums now battling to win the race to buy the Stamford Bridge club.
The Blues cannot sign any players to new contracts either, though Azpilicueta\u2019s extension was through a pre-existing clause.
But Tuchel still believes Chelsea could keep hold of Rudiger, once the ongoing takeover battle is complete in the summer.
\u201cI would try to meet him if I were any other club,\u201d said Tuchel, of Rudiger.
\u201cStill he\u2019s our player and I still think we have a good chance he stays our player once things are solved for us.
\u201cOur hands are tied, we cannot offer him or negotiate or renegotiate with his agents. But I\u2019m still confident.\u201d
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