INTERNATIONAL:​ Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel paid tribute to everyone at Chelsea after the defending champions reached the Champions League quarter-finals following a week of turmoil off the pitch.

The London club, operating on a special license from the British government that has limited their spending and impacted their operations after sanctions against their Russian owner Roman Abramovich following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, won 2-1 at Lille to secure a 4-1 aggregate victory.

"We are all competitors and I always experienced, from day one, a very competitive spirit and club. I think it's so clear what Chelsea demands from every employee and player. So play your role and play to the limit," Tuchel, who led Chelsea to the European title in his first season in charge, told a news conference.

"Everybody plays a huge part at the moment. Everyone around the team, the whole 80 people who work at Cobham. We are competitive and are competitive no matter what."

Chelsea proved in at the Pierre Mauroy stadium with a ruthless performance with Christian Pulisic and Cesar Azpilicueta scoring either side of the interval to make the most of their opponents' lapses in concentration.

Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel

"Thanks for ruining my evening.

Journalist Saying:

"At the moment until you get a new owner that's the case."

Chelsea Manager, Thomas Tuchel Saying:

"Can we speak about it when it's confirmed? It is confirmed? So, let's wait for the confirmation of the confirmation. But let's see, today I'm happy that we are in the last eight it’s top again and a with lot of things to overcome and I’m so happy and so so proud. So, let's see, it's the first thing that I heard now and in three days we play Middlesbrough in the cup, and then we have a national break and then I think about a good answer."

"That is so clear Chelsea it so clear what it demands from every employee and from every player, so play your role and play it to the limit and live up to it and take your responsibility and this is what Chelsea is about and that sharpens your mentality and brings out the best in you because it's normal to do it on a daily basis. And because this mentality is installed over years and years and a decade that's why it's possible that we can stay focused and produce results as we do. And in the moment now when things are uncertain and things are unstable around us because it's already there and we live it on a daily basis, of course, we try to encourage the players and to support the players in the best way possible but still, I'm very proud that they can do it like this and everybody plays a huge part at the moment."

"It's about your responsibility, also we have the responsibility, I feel still very very privileged I think everybody is still very privileged so we take the responsibility that we have once you playwork for Chelsea this is what you do and you adapt to the level of talent be it a player or coach or a member of staff. Once you work for Chelsea you work at the limit this is what you do on a daily basis and this is what helps. We stick together and then try to overcome the situation together that helps also that we don't do individual sport. I’m very proud and very happy..”

Regardless of the result, Tuchel said the context would not provide him with excuses as his team is focused on their pitch performance.

"There's always a thin line as to why things are difficult and excuses. We have a responsibility and we take that. Once you work for Chelsea, this is what you do," he said.

"Once you work for Chelsea, you work at the limit and it's what you do on a daily basis."

Looking ahead to the quarter-finals, the German said Chelsea would again be tough to beat.

"I want us to be the team nobody wants to play. That's the role we want to see ourselves in this last eight," he said.