Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says it was Tino Livramento's decision to leave for Southampton.

The fullback is expected to start for Saints against his old club this weekend.

Tuchel, who named Livramento on the bench twice in the Premier League last season, explained the club saw his potential, but ultimately respected the player's wish to move on.

The manager said, "He was highly rated, we did everything to keep him here, to show him his future and his possibilities to compete also for a position in our team. He decided to go, that's his decision, sometimes you have to accept it, there are no hard feelings.

"He was of course competing with Reece James and Azpi in the right wing-back position. I think it was an ideal position for him to fight and the group is not too big so there was a big chance also to make it all the way.

"If Tino decided to go, it's fair enough, he does very well, we wish him all the best. Of course we saw the potential, he decided to go another way and fight for his place in Southampton and that's how the business is."