chelseaThe new owners have sacked head coach Thomas Tuchel just three months after completing their takeover of the club.
Tuchel’s 100th and last game in charge of Chelsea was on Tuesday 1-0 defeat in the Champions League at Dinamo Zagreb and sources told ESPN that Tuchel, 49, was informed of the decision on Wednesday morning.
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A consortium led by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital acquired the club from Roman Abramovich in late May and oversaw a record single-window outlay for Chelsea of more than £250million on nine players.
However, sources have told ESPN that relations between Boehly and Tuchel have become strained over the club’s transfer strategy, while fresh concerns over the team’s lackluster start to the season have prompted the owner to act.
Members of the club’s behind-the-scenes staff will take care of the interim, possibly also for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Fulhamas the search for Tuchel’s replacement begins.
A statement from the club read“On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, the club would like to express their gratitude to Thomas and his team for all their hard work during their time at the club. Thomas will rightly have a place in Chelsea history after won the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here.
“As the new ownership group reaches 100 days since taking over the club and continue their hard work to take the club forward, the new owners believe now is the right time to make this transition.
“Chelsea’s coaching staff will support the squad in training and preparing for our upcoming games as the club moves quickly to appoint a new head coach.
“There will be no further comment until a new head coach is appointed.”
Tuchel was named Frank Lampard’s successor in January 2021 and guided Chelsea to their second Champions League crown in May of that year.
In February, he led Chelsea to the only trophy to elude Abramovich in his 19-year tenure, the Club World Cup, with victory over Palmeiras in Abu Dhabi.
However, Tuchel then came under intense pressure as the club’s public face, as Abramovich was effectively forced to sell Chelsea after the UK government imposed sanctions linked to his alleged links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Tuchel steered the club through a difficult time on the pitch as the Boehly/Clearlake consortium negotiated their purchase of the club.
However, disagreements emerged over the club’s transfer strategy and sources suggested Boehly was worried that messages from Tuchel were not reaching the players, many of whom had become frustrated with his approach.
Tuesday’s defeat at Zagreb was their third consecutive away defeat, the first time under Tuchel, while the club are sixth in the Premier League having won three of their first six matches.
Speaking after losing in ZagrebTuchel said: “Of course I’m frustrated; there’s too much to analyze, I’m one of them, and we’re clearly not where we need to be. At the moment everything is missing.”