(Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has clarified Andreas Christensen was not able to play in the FA Cup final as opposed to refusing to play.)
Andreas came in the morning of the match to speak to me and tell me he was not ready to play the match, start the match, or be on the bench.
He had his reasons; they stay private and confidential. But it was not the first time, as you can see over the last weeks that we had some of the same situations where he could not play so regularly.
We thought that we were in a good progression and development because he played very strong in the match before the final against Leeds, but a conversation took place, we had to respect it, we of course respected it.
I don’t think that he did not want to play, he was not able to. It’s a big difference.
Andreas Christensen did not refuse to play FA Cup final, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel clarifies
Thomas Tuchel on Andreas Christensen FA Cup final absence: “I don’t think that he did not want to play, he was not able to. It’s a big difference”; Christensen could already have played last game for Chelsea with doubt over availability for final two games of the campaign
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https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/12615929/andreas-christensen-did-not-refuse-to-play-fa-cup-final-chelsea-boss-thomas-tuchel-clarifies
Christensen was absent on Saturday as Chelsea lost 6-5 on penalties to Liverpool at Wembley for the second time this season in successive domestic cup finals.
Tuchel outlined how Christensen had communicated he would be unavailable for selection on the day of the final but sought to clarify the defender had not refused to play.
“Andreas came in the morning of the match to speak to me and tell me he was not ready to play the match, start the match, or be on the bench,” Tuchel said ahead of Thursday’s Premier League match against Leicester.
“He had his reasons; they stay private and confidential. But it was not the first time, as you can see over the last weeks that we had some of the same situations where he could not play so regularly.
“We thought that we were in a good progression and development because he played very strong in the match before the final against Leeds, but a conversation took place, we had to respect it, we of course respected it.”
He continued: “I don’t think that he did not want to play, he was not able to. It’s a big difference.”