Jorginho hopeful for Tuchel to be back for Club World Cup final

Chelsea are keen to send Thomas Tuchel to the

Club World Cup

final, according to Jorginho, who believes the team manager can make a breakthrough for their side. 

Tuchel contracted the COVID-19 in the weeks leading up to Chelsea's journey to the United Arab Emirates, and Chelsea announced the news last Saturday. 

The Champions League heroes defeated Al-Hilal 1-0 in the semi-finals, courtesy to a Romelu Lukaku strike, and are now prepared to face Palmeiras in the final with the German coach absent on the bench.

Palmeiras

, the Copa Libertadores champions, defeated Al Ahly 2-0 and will be a formidable opponent for Chelsea. 

Tuchel would like to participate in Saturday's trophy contest, and Chelsea allegedly has a private plane on standby for him, but he must first receive negative test results before being authorized to go to Abu Dhabi. 

Asked about preparing for the game without Tuchel, Jorginho said:

"Of course it's different. His energy helps a lot, but he's not here now and the staff is trying to do their best. We can feel that.

"We feel sorry Thomas is not here with us, but he's involved all the time, in touch with the staff and team. We can feel the staff, all of them, are doing their best."

On the other hand, Tuchel's presence would benefit the team much better rather than making preparations from afar. 

"Of course it gives you more," Jorginho said. "There's more energy in the changing room. It'll be really important for us if he could be here. That's what we hope but at the moment we just don't know. We can hope."

Chelsea's assistant coach

Zsolt Low

, who will lead the team if Tuchel cannot make the trip, added:

"We still hope he can come and enjoy the group and the final as soon as possible.

"He is following the rules and getting tested. There is a lot of time. Any test he does could be negative. We hope this happens in the next hours. Thomas absolutely thinks he can be there, and the team and the whole staff want him to come for the final.

"We hope he can come, but if he cannot, we are still well prepared. We have had a lot of meetings. We had a video conference after the first game analyzing it, and seeing what we can do better and what problems we had. We are absolutely clear what happened in the first game and what we have to do better in the second game."

Chelsea have yet to determine if goalie

Edouard Mendy

, who recently returned from aiding Senegal to win the

Africa Cup of Nations

, should replace

Kepa Arrizabalaga

in the starting lineup.

"We have to take this decision tonight or latest tomorrow," said Low. "We talk to Thomas about it, we talk with the goalkeeper coaches, and we will make the final decision tomorrow, some hours before the game.

"Whoever sits on the bench has nothing to be worried or sad about. Both goalkeepers have had big performances in the last weeks, and that's why it's just a decision for this game."

After winning the Champions League with Chelsea and winning Euro 2020 with Italy last year, Jorginho will be looking for another big prize.

"It's an important trophy. It's February. It's so much. We really want it. We're not thinking about the Premier League right now, we're thinking about tomorrow," Jorginho said. "That's the important thing right now."

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