Yesterday I sat down to write a piece titled “Why the club needs to back Thomas Tuchel” it was going to be written in place of the usual match review. There was no point talking about the Dinamo Zagreb result because it was more of what we had seen in recent months. Then around lunch time, much like they did in January 2020 with Lampard Chelsea dropped a tweet saying they had let go of Thomas Tuchel. For my unfiltered and live reaction to the news you can see my tweets. The fanbase was justifiably shocked and in uproar as to why Todd Boehly and Clearlake had taken this decision. I chose not to write a piece yesterday because it would have been highly emotional and lacking any the information that has come out via the reliable journalists. Below is my level headed opinion on what has happened over the last 24 hours and what I feel needs to happen next.
Thomas Tuchel came in after Frank Lampard was sacked in January 2020 and similar to yesterday there was major uproar and discontent amongst the fanbase. The fans were ready to stick with Lampard but Roman Abramovich had pulled the trigger. Tuchel had been sacked by Paris Saint Germain and personally I didn’t want him at Chelsea. That all changed when I watched Tuchel’s first press conference and he won me over. The way he spoke about football, the maturity he showed he gradually won everyone over. Chelsea went from despair to winning the Champions League for a second time and finishing in the top four. Tuchel went on to win the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup, two trophies that the club had never won. This was our manager and everything felt great.
Chelsea went through their dip in form during the winter period but no one panicked and there was no discontent. Russia then attacked Ukraine and Roman Abramovich was sanctioned as a result of it. The club was put up for sale and Tuchel along with Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech navigated Chelsea to two cup finals and a top four finish while we were sanctioned by the government. This period just increased the level of attachment the fans had with Tuchel and clearly Tuchel felt the same way. Tuchel stated that he never had this connection with the fans at his previous clubs and he was grateful to the Chelsea fanbase.
Todd Boehly won a bidding process to be announced as the new owner along with Clearlake Capital and the fans felt that he was the best option going forward. They wanted to make Tuchel the centre piece of their project and the fans loved it. Everyone felt that the days of hiring and firing managers were over and the new owners would stick with Tuchel even through a rough patch of form. After spending 270 million pounds on transfers during the summer and getting players Tuchel wanted many felt that the German was getting backed. Despite a comparatively poor start to the season and some irritation amongst the fanbase mostly everyone felt that Tuchel was the way forward. Then came the decision yesterday and now Thomas Tuchel is no longer Chelsea manager.
Why?
At the time this seemed like a ludicrous decision and one that was taken by someone who didn’t know what they were doing. As news and articles have come out (some more reliable than others), it is clear to see that the tension was simmering in the background. Boehly and co had gradually taken away all the remnants of the Roman era and wanted Tuchel to be more involved with them but Tuchel just wanted to coach. The increased role in transfers had taken a toll on him along with his personal problems and the sanctions etc. Pair that with Marina and Cech leaving two people that he stated time and time again made his life simple and easy, Tuchel probably felt he didn’t recognise the club anymore. Players were discontent and poor results only helped add fuel to the fire.
My issue with Boehly is not that he took the decision to sack Tuchel but rather why he didn’t do it in the summer. Given everything that has come out post the sacking its clear that Tuchel wasn't comfortable and Boehly wasn’t comfortable so why not just pull the trigger in pre-season. It would have hurt back then as well but at least the new manager gets time to get ready for the new season. The signings bar Aubameyang are versatile and full of quality so they could fit any system or philosophy.
Whatever the case and reasons maybe, Todd Boehly’s popularity amongst the Chelsea fanbase has taken a hit. Thomas Tuchel is someone the fans trusted and believed in, and he stuck with us when we were at our lowest. There was a bond and we didn’t even get to give him proper farewell. He wasn’t Conte, or Sarri, or even Lampard, Tuchel was special someone who can stand alongside Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti as one of the great managers of Chelsea Football Club in the modern era. Todd Boehly will now have to make his actions speak louder than words. If he truly wants a manager for the long term then we will see 2-3 years from now whether Potter or whoever the next manager is, is still in charge.
Final words on Tuchel
Tuchel will probably take a break from football for a year or two or maybe he will dive right back in. After everything he has been through personally and professionally anyone would take some time away and just gather themselves. There will be plenty of suitors for the German, Juventus, Real Madrid, maybe even Liverpool the way things are going with Klopp but hopefully he doesn’t join any other English club.
I didn’t want Tuchel, but over 18 months he has for me become one of the greatest managers this club has ever seen. From beating Pep three times in a row to beating Conte three times in a row. Klopp didn’t manage to beat Tuchel over 90 minutes and Tuchel actually beat Klopp. Winning the Champions League and actually deserving it the time rather than winning it out of pure passion and luck. The press conferences which felt like 15 minute short classes on coaching. The German truly formed a special bond with us as fans.
I wish we could have given him a proper farewell and I hope that we sing his name at each of our next three games against Fulham, Salzburg, and Liverpool. Bring out the banner, and hopefully Tuchel is watching on a TV somewhere and sees the level of love and affection we have for him. I really hope it could have worked out but it wasn’t meant to be. I believe everything happens for a reason though and so in saying that I wish Thomas Tuchel, Arno Michels, and Zsolt Low good luck for the future. I hope he wins many more trophies (preferably in Spain or Italy) and I hope one day when the dust settles he can comeback and we can show him how much he meant to us. SUPER TOMMY TUCHEL!!!
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