https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/
tuchel-weve-made-another-brilliant-signing
Tuchel: We've made another brilliant signing
18 Jul 2022
Thomas Tuchel has spoken for the first time about Kalidou Koulibaly since
knowing for certain the revered defender will be one of the players he can
select for the team in the season ahead.
https://i.imgur.com/nk6Ibwi.jpg
The new signing from Serie A side Napoli joined up with the squad in Las
Vegas immediately after his move was finalised. In the coming days, with
the pre-season tour relocating to the east coast of the United States,
Koulibaly will train with the prospect of being given match action at some
stage ahead of the Premier League kick-off.
However the Chelsea head coach already knows the qualities the player
possesses.
'He brings experience, top defending quality, height, and everything we
are looking for to play in a back-three or a back-four,' Tuchel lists.
'It's another brilliant signing for us, and we hope Kalidou can show his
quality as soon as possible.
https://i.imgur.com/nbLfRxG.jpg
Kalidou Koulibaly up against former Blue Tammy Abraham in Serie A
'He knows already some of the players. He plays with Edouard Mendy with
his national team and he played with Jorginho at Napoli. I think for this
side it will be very quick that he feels welcome in the group. It's a nice
group, and everybody is happy that he is with us now.'
With Koulibaly having turned 31 last month and joining Chelsea on a
four-year contract, there is confidence he can maintain in the long term
the high standard he showed in Italy and when captaining Senegal to their
first Africa Cup of Nations.
'That's what we believe, and that's what he is here for,' states Tuchel.
'There were always rumours about him leaving Napoli. It was always super
difficult and in the end impossible to get him because he was a key player
there. It's nice that he takes the challenge right now.
'We have Thiago Silva who is even older and super experienced and still at
the peak of his game, so we hope that Kalidou can do the same and play
many years for us. He is totally fit and ready for the challenge, and he
needs to be because we need him in top shape.'