Chelsea sack Tuchel after poor start to the season

Chelsea’s German coach Thomas Tuchel reacts during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Chelsea FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 12, 2022. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)

Chelsea on Wednesday sacked manager Thomas Tuchel just seven games into the season following a chastening 1-0 Champions League defeat at Dinamo Zagreb.

The London club said in a statement they had “parted company” with the German, who led them to Champions League glory in 2021 and the Club World Cup crown earlier this year.

The former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss, 49, leaves Stamford Bridge after less than 20 months in charge.

“On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, the club would like to place on record its gratitude to Thomas and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the club,” the Premier League club said in a statement.

“Thomas will rightly have a place in Chelsea’s history after winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here.”

The Stamford Bridge club, under new owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, defended the timing of the decision.

“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,” the statement said.

Chelsea are sixth in the Premier League table after three wins, one draw and two defeats in their opening six matches.

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Chelsea’s coaching staff will take charge of the team as the club “moves swiftly to appoint a new head coach”.

Boehly’s consortium paid a world-record fee of £4.25 billion ($4.9 billion) for a sports