What’s behind Tuchel’s firing and who will replace him?

Todd Boehly and Thomas Tuchel’s collaboration in Chelsea lasted just 100 days. Now the Blues are coachless and the German coach is out of a job. What was behind this decision and who will take his place on the bench of the London team?

For most of the footballing public, Tuchel’s sacking was a very unexpected move, but it is obviously not an impulsive decision from Todd Boehly overnight.

The club’s new owner wants to build a successful team at Chelsea, which will be made up of a permanent core of key players under the guidance of a coach who will be in charge of this project for the long term.

For example, the LA Dodgers, which Boehly also owns, have had a coach in Dave Roberts for 7 years. And very likely will add some more years.

Tuchel was originally supposed to be the one who would have a similarly long tenure at Chelsea, but that won’t happen. Because his recent behaviour has not convinced Boehly that he is the right coach to work with successfully in the long term.

The German tactician, who dominated the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, likes the peace of mind to work and solve football problems, but Boehly has demanded him to work more with the management and be more involved in the club’s affairs, such as the selection of a new sporting director.

In short, the new management wants an environment where everyone at the club works very closely together and Thomas Tuchel doesn’t seem to fit into that environment.

The former Blues coach hasn’t had an ideal relationship with some of his players lately either. They were supposed to be unhappy with the lineup selections and the positions Tuchel put them in. And the performances of the likes of Pulisic and Ziyech were noticeably affected.

Whether Tuchel’s dismissal is a good move remains to be seen, but he is one of the world’s best coaches and was very popular among the club’s fans, so his successor will not have it easy. And who will it be anyway?

The main candidate is supposed to be Graham Potter from Brighton, one of the best English managers, who has also already gained experience with the Seagulls in the Premier League. His commitment to a top club is only a matter of time.

However, it is not certain whether he will want to leave Brighton during a well-paced season. Moreover, he is under contract with the club until 2025 and his arrival would not be cheap.

Boehly is also planning meetings with Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane, who are currently out of work. Brendan Rodgers and Diego Simeone are also mentioned (but with less likelihood).

Chelsea’s next game is on Saturday at Fulham, where the team will try to put the defeat to Dinamo Zagreb behind them and build on the league win over West Ham.

Source: Telegraph