Thomas Tuchel always knew this moment would arrive at Chelsea. The German accepted as much in his very first press conference as head coach: "If they are not happy, they will sack me," he said matter-of-factly.
Plenty has changed at Stamford Bridge in the 19 months since Tuchel uttered those words. The most influential of which was beyond his control. Under previous owner Roman Abramovich, Tuchel's role was defined. He was the first-team coach and supported by those above him, namely club director Marina Granovskaia and technical and performance advisor Petr Cech.
It was in that hierarchical structure that Tuchel did his best work. His impact after replacing Frank Lampard was immediate and within five months he had guided Chelsea to the Champions League. In the process, he forged an emotional bond with the club's supporters, something he was unable – or perhaps even unwilling – to do at Borussia Dortmund at Paris Saint-Germain.
