The pressure is on me – Tuchel
Chelsea have sacked Thomas Tuchel following their 1-0 Champions League defeat to Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday, and the club will now open talks with Brighton manager Graham Potter.
Tuchel guided the Blues to their second Champions League triumph in 2021 but had struggled so far this season, with a third defeat this week following Premier League defeats to Leeds and Southampton.
A club statement on Wednesday morning said: “As the new ownership group reaches 100 days since taking over the club, and as they continue their hard work to take the club forward, the new owners believe it is the time is right to make that transition.”
Chelsea have moved quickly and have been granted permission to open talks with Potter, who has impressed since taking charge at Brighton.
Follow all the latest updates as Todd Boehly makes his biggest decision since taking over at Stamford Bridge for the Blues against Fulham on Saturday:
Thomas Tuchel sacked by Chelsea
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Why does he want Chelsea Potter?
Chelsea are believed to be looking for a long-term manager who can change the culture of the club and focus on the development of every player in the squad.
Graham Potter can work within complicated football structures and tends to bring out the best in those players who accept his methodology.
Brighton sold Marc Cucurella to Chelsea and Yves Bissouma to Tottenham this summer and spent far less on replacements, but despite the departures, the squad has continued to improve.
Potter’s side also play an attractive style of football which will have caught the eye of Chelsea officials.
Michael Jones September 7, 2022 4:49 p.m
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Chelsea worried Tuchel had ‘lost his spark’
Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett says one of the reasons for Thomas Tuchel’s sacking is that he had lost the trust of some of the club’s higher-ups, as well as some of the senior players.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Dorsett said: “My understanding is that the Chelsea bosses, and some of the senior players, were concerned that the spark had gone out from Thomas Tuchel, who was not communicating as well as he had done in the past
“Recent results, not just this season but going back to last season, were a cause for concern, especially after Chelsea spent over £250m in the transfer window.
“What they hope to get in Graham Potter is someone who will be given a mandate to come in and change the whole footballing ethos at Chelsea, from the academy to the senior team.
“He will also be heavily involved in recruitment. What Chelsea want is a style of play that the fans can get behind, like the one he introduced so successfully at Brighton.
“It is very clear that, unless there is a major obstacle, Potter is very likely to be the new Chelsea manager.”
Michael Jones September 7, 2022 4:42 p.m
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Chelsea’s next manager: Jose Mourinho?
Sacked by Chelsea midway through the 2015/16 season as the club’s title defense imploded spectacularly, Jose Mourinho remains a club legend despite holding jobs at Manchester United and Tottenham. Could a third spell at Chelsea happen?
Never rule anything out at Stamford Bridge.
(EPA)
Michael Jones September 7, 2022 4:35 pm
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Chelsea’s next manager: Diego Simeone?
He is one of the most respected managers in Europe and one who would bring a distinctive style to Chelsea. Simeone has led Atlético Madrid to two La Liga titles and has taken the club to the brink of the Champions League.
There are also signs that his time with Atletico has peaked and he was linked with the Manchester United job last year before Erik ten Hag took over.
This would be a tough appointment to get over the line and may not be what Chelsea are looking for.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Michael Jones September 7, 2022 4:28 p.m
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Chelsea’s next manager: Brendan Rodgers?
The Leicester manager was a front-runner to replace Frank Lampard ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s appointment at the start of 2021 and appears unhappy at the King Power following the club’s poor transfer window.
Despite Leicester being bottom of the Premier League, Rodgers, who is a former Chelsea manager, remains highly regarded and the Foxes beat Chelsea to win the FA Cup in Tuchel’s first season.
Given Leicester’s league position, it would be a brave choice and may upset the fans, but Rodgers is a proven manager and if given time in the role, Chelsea would become a formidable team.
Would the new owners be willing to give Rodgers time?
(Getty Images)
Michael Jones September 7, 2022 4:21 p.m
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Graham Potter at Chelsea ‘moving at breakneck speed’ as Blues step up interest
Chelsea want to speak to Graham Potter as early as Wednesday evening after Brighton and Hove Albion cleared him.
The 47-year-old is naturally open to discussion and has a release clause in his contract. This clause also includes each year of your contract, but contains some variables and is not as simple as a flat fee.
That is why, if a deal is reached, the likely fee would be £16m.
Brighton have given Potter permission to speak to Chelsea as this is how they do business and they do not intend to impede talks.
Graham Potter at Chelsea ‘moving at breakneck speed’ as Blues step up interest
The Brighton boss is open to talks with the Stamford Bridge club about replacing Thomas Tuchel
Michael Jones September 7, 2022 4:15 pm
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Brighton’s Potter Disc
Graham Potter was brought to Brighton in 2019 to bring more attacking football to the club following the departure of Chris Houghton.
The Seagulls have struggled for goals at times but have been playing incredible football this season, the culmination of three years of Potter’s influence, and sit fourth in the Premier League after the first six games.
Since taking over at Brighton, Potter has overseen 120 games, recording 34 wins, 44 draws and 42 losses. In that time, Brighton have scored 133 goals and conceded 149.
Are these results good enough to land him at Chelsea?
Michael Jones September 7, 2022 4:07 p.m
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Mac Allister wants Potter to stay at Brighton
Brighton striker Alexis Mac Allister was asked if the subject of Chelsea had been raised with current boss Graham Potter, who is being touted as a possible replacement for the sacked Thomas Tuchel.
“I don’t know anything,” said the midfielder. “We didn’t talk about any situation. The boss is very important to us, we want him to be here for a long time.
“For sure [he is among the elite coaches in world football]he’s going to be an amazing manager, we hope he stays here for life, but at the same time we know it’s going to be difficult, but he’s very important for us as a club.”
Asked how Brighton would adapt to life without Potter, Mac Allister continued: “To be honest, I’d rather not think about it.
“Graham is very important to us and we don’t think about the future. We think about the present and now it’s here, and we know we have an important game at the weekend. We want the coaching staff to help us win this game.”
Michael Jones September 7, 2022 4:00 p.m
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Chelsea’s next manager: Zinedine Zidane?
The former Real Madrid manager was linked with the PSG job following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino and is yet to take up another position after leaving the Bernabeu at the end of his second spell in 2021.
Zidane has one of the most impressive managerial CVs after winning three straight Champions League titles at Real Madrid, but it is unclear which direction Chelsea want to go.
They may decide to hire a manager with long-term goals in mind. The other obstacle appears to be Zidane’s desire to hold on to the France national team job rather than return to club football.
(PA)
Michael Jones September 7, 2022 3:53 p.m
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Chelsea’s next manager: Mauricio Pochettino?
The former Tottenham boss replaced Thomas Tuchel at Paris Saint-Germain but was sacked at the end of last season after falling short in the Champions League.
His record of improving players, shown during his time at Tottenham, could fit into the Chelsea ownership’s long-term plan to develop young talent and he is freely available to take the job.
Miguel Delaney of The Independent reports that Pochettino has interested Chelsea before and would be an easier appointment to make than Potter.
(REUTERS)
Michael Jones September 7, 2022 3:45 pm