Chelsea's Tuchel keen to avoid transfer talk before season ends

German has guided Blues to FA Cup, Champions League final and aiming to also closing in on a top-four finish in the PL

LONDON:

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said he does not want to dent the harmony and optimism at the club by discussing possible transfers before the end of the season.

Since replacing Frank Lampard midway through the season, Tuchel has guided Chelsea to the final of the FA Cup and Champions League, while they are also closing in on a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Tuchel had issues with transfer strategy at Paris St Germain before he was sacked last year and he was determined to avoid similar problems at Chelsea.

"Transfer periods can be mood breakers," he told reporters ahead of Wednesday's match against Arsenal. "(At Chelsea) it has been only about coaching. No second thoughts about bringing somebody in or letting somebody go.

"A big part of my personality is on coaching and guiding my team and pushing it to the limit ... I have zero ambition to ruin this atmosphere for myself or anybody else.

"Do we have some ideas how to improve the squad? Yes, but will we fight about it? No. We will discuss it and first of all we will finish this season."

Chelsea will have to find a way to stop Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Wednesday and Tuchel knows exactly what kind of threat the Arsenal striker brings. The German coached Aubameyang at Borussia Dortmund, with the striker netting 79 goals under him at the Bundesliga club.

"It was a very reliable relationship because he delivered an unbelievable amount of goals, his speed was unique in the Bundesliga and he was a crucial player," Tuchel said.

"In some ways, he will still always be my player, so I want him to succeed and have a good time wherever he is."