Thomas Tuchel has played down talk of a bust-up with left-back Marcos Alonso, insisting the problem with the Spaniard is now 'solved'.
Alonso was seen remonstrating with Tuchel during the first half of Saturday's 2-2 draw with Wolves and was then substituted at the interval, with the boss stressing that his decision was not due to an injury.
Reports then emerged of a clash between the two during the game, which The Telegraph state that Chelsea have denied, although Tuchel later revealed some details of the incident during Tuesday's press conference ahead of facing Leeds.
“[It] started and ended in the first half," he explained. "Was not continued at half-time. Nothing else. Things are solved. That happens.”
In the wake of the disappointing draw to Wolves - and the current run of just one win from their last five games - Tuchel opted to cancel a scheduled day off and dragged his players back in for an impromptu training session on Sunday.
"We planned a free day but after the disappointment it was not even to punish them," Tuchel said of his decision. "It was normally a free day and maybe some felt it was a punishment. It wasn’t.
"It was not the moment for a free day, it is better to be together and talk about it than to go and everybody has his own opinion, own truth. You have more risk to be in fragments than to be here. We did very light training, had a run together and discussed things, how to approach the next days.
Listen now to 90min's Chelsea podcast Wherever You May Be, hosted by Olivia Buzaglo. Each week, Olivia and guests Krishan Davis & Anita Abayomi talk all things blue. In our latest episode, the team discuss Antonio Rudiger's departure, Chelsea's recent form and Reece James.
"We brought everybody together to have the chance to be together. A lot of players supported the Under-23’s on the other pitch which was very nice. That’s what we are. Very supportive, open minded group of players. That’s what it felt like on Sunday.
"That’s what the Sunday morning was for, not to punish them or do a video session and show the mistakes or behaviour we could have done better. It was just to be together and not in different groups away from each other on a free day. That’s why we put everybody in.”
Source : 90min