Todd Boehly has opted to not part with Chelsea tradition after ruthlessly sacking Thomas Tuchel on Wednesday.
Roman Abramovic h developed a reputation for chopping and changing managers with unerring regularity during his 19 years at Stamford Bridge. Tuchel was the Russian’s final appointment, replacing Frank Lampard and guiding the Blues to the Champions League less than six months later.
But just seven competitive matches into the Boehly era, the new Chelsea custodian has wielded the axe, relieving Tuchel of his duties following the 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb. “As the new ownership group reaches 100 days since taking over the Club, and as it continues its hard work to take the club forward, the new owners believe it is the right time to make this transition,” an official statement read.
“Chelsea’s coaching staff will take charge of the team for training and the preparation of our upcoming matches as the Club moves swiftly to appoint a new head coach.”
The decision has divided a club which was in desperate need of unity following the most turbulent period in Chelsea’s rich, recent history. And Boehly has also directly ignored a demand from one of the most prominent presences of Tuchel’s tenure - Antonio Rudiger.
The German international had been deemed surplus to requirements under Tuchel’s predecessor, only to become a near ever-present in the run to European glory and the two years succeeding it. His transfer to Real Madrid now looks a fatal blow to the manager’s long-term plans in the capital, breaking up a defence which had been the backbone of his early success.
But upon his Chelsea departure, Rudiger pleaded with Chelsea bosses for a change in mentality when it came to hiring and firing managers - in particular Tuchel. “I hope for this club that the mentality changes of sacking coaches so early when success is not there,” Rüdiger told the Times in May.
“I like to trust the process and, with this coach, you can see there is a process. Chelsea can be very proud to have a coach like this. The way he handled himself. The way he handled things in those tough moments, you have to give him kudos for that, you have to give him credit for that.”
Amidst all the upheaval off the pitch during last season, Tuchel guided the Blues to a top-four finish and the latter stages of the Champions League, where they suffered late heartbreak vs Real Madrid. But it was that period which convinced Rudiger that he was playing under one of the game’s elite coaches.
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He continued: “With all this noise around and everything the way he managed us, to go out there in Santiago Bernabéu with all that was going on and to deliver something like this [beating Real Madrid away but being eliminated from the Champions League in extra time] you have to give him credit for that. For me, he is a phenomenal coach. He is up there with Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp.”
For those still within the Chelsea dressing room, they were called back into Cobham on Wednesday, where they were met by Boehly to hold talks. Brighton boss Graham Potter is the overwhelming favourite to replace Tuchel, with the Seagulls giving permission for the 47-year-old to speak to their Premier League rivals.
