When asked if he’ll be hesitant to sign players for Chelsea who haven’t taken the Covid-19 vaccine after N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek both missed their pre-season tour of USA because of it, Thomas Tuchel said: “Yes, it has to [be a factor].
“I knew some players who I would also take without vaccination. I have to say, but yes, it is a part of daily life at the moment.
"We cannot force [players to get vaccinated]. It is at the moment a very normal decision to get vaccinated. Both players took the decision not to. We need to follow the rules. They cannot join us. They know about the consequences.
“We don't like it. Of course not. We would love to have them here and it is not an ideal solution. Far from ideal. But, once the situation is like this you need to come up with a solution. They train with the Under-23s. Then they go with the Under-19s... but it will not compensate. It will not be the same [as being with the first team].”
Kante and Loftus-Cheek have not taken all their necessary Covid-19 vaccine doses, which is why they weren’t allowed to travel to the USA. Not just Chelsea, but many European sides are becoming hesitant to sign unvaccinated players because of travel restrictions being put in for them.
