Thomas Tuchel has broken his silence on his dismissal from Chelsea as head coach. The 49-year-old said that he is devastated to have left Stamford Bridge after nearly two years at the helm - a place where he called home 'both professionally and personally.'
In a heartfelt statement posted on Twitter, Tuchel thanked the staff, players and Blues fans for making him feel 'very welcome from the start' of what proved to be a greatly successful tenure in west London. The German's message read: "This is one of the most difficult statements I have ever had to write - and it is one which I hoped I would not need to do for many years.
"I am devastated that my time at Chelsea has come to an end. This is a club where I felt at home, both professionally and personally.
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"Thank you so much to all the staff, the players and the supporters for making me feel very welcome from the start," Tuchel added.
"The pride and joy I felt at helping the team to win the Champions League and the Club World Cup will stay with me forever. I am honoured to have been a part of this club’s history and the memories of the last 19 months will always have a special place in my heart."
Replacing Tuchel is Graham Potter, who has penned a five-year deal at Chelsea, along with a handful of backroom staff from Brighton and Hove Albion. Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, the former Seagulls boss has to wait longer than expected before making his Premier League debut with the Blues.
With her Majesty's funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19, it remains to be seen whether Stamford Bridge will welcome Jurgen Klopp's side to west London the day prior. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit the capital in the coming days so it would present a sizeable task for the police, with Brentford versus Arsenal also scheduled for the same weekend.
Until the January transfer windows opens, much of Potter's work will be determined by the signings Tuchel helped Boehly make in the summer. Of course, Marc Cucurella is the standout arrival having left the Amex Stadium months earlier, but the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Raheem Sterling are also set to play major roles.
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