Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is set to miss the Club World Cup after testing positive for Covid.The Blues announced news of the German's positive test shortly before their FA Cup fourth-round match against Plymouth Argyle.As a result, assistant coach Arno Michels led the team against the League One Pilgrims at Stamford Bridge.
And Michels will now be forced to take charge for at least one of Chelsea's Club World Cup games, too, while Tuchel quarantines in the UK.
Current UK government guidelines state that anyone who contracts Covid must quarantine for ten days, even if they are vaccinated.However, that period can be cut to just five days providing two negative lateral flow tests are returned on both day five and day six.If Tuchel is forced to self-isolate for the whole ten-day period, he will not return from quarantine in time to play a part in Chelsea's Club World Cup campaign.If, however, he provides two negative lateral flow tests during the aforementioned period, he will be able to fly out for the final, should the Blues get there.
According to the UAE's official government website, vaccinated travellers arriving from countries not on the 'green list' - the UK being one of those not included - must return at least four negative PCR tests.Will Chelsea win the Club World Cup?