THOMAS TUCHEL is reportedly flying to London and will take Chelsea training today.
The German will replace Frank Lampard as Blues manager following the club legend’s sacking on Monday.
Thomas Tuchel is flying to London today and will take Chelsea training this afternoon after meeting the playersCredit: PA:Press Association
The Blues are preparing to take on Wolves at Stamford Bridge tomorrow eveningCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Chelsea hope Tuchel can take charge of Wednesday night’s clash with Wolves.
Tuchel, 47, is understood to be accompanied by three staff members, The Athletic add.
Their Covid-19 tests and work permits have been sorted allowing them to enter Chelsea’s elite sporting bubble, the report adds.
They will meet with the Blues players before leading the session at Cobham later on.
Chelsea take on Nuno Espirito Santo’s side at Stamford Bridge at 6pm on Wednesday.
Roman Abramovich eventually pulled the trigger on Monday morning to sack Lampard with the club ninth in the table, a string of poor performances, low confidence and no sign of the former midfielder turning the ship around.
The club legend, 42, was summoned for talks with chairman Bruce Buck and director Marina Granovskaia less than 24 hours after the 3-1 FA Cup win over Luton.
Problems ran deeper and longer, though, with Lampard’s public request for funds last January, dropping record-signing Kepa Arrizabalaga and pursuit of released academy player Declan Rice all going down badly with the board.
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A number of stars are said to have been left ‘hurt’ by Lampard’s public criticism of the squad and believed him to lack empathy, despite his long career as a player himself.
The 2-0 defeat at Leicester proved to be the final nail in the coffin – with Chelsea chiefs spending the next morning looking for a replacement.
Tuchel is expected to sign an 18-month contract at Stamford Bridge with an option for a further year.
He arrives in West London after his own sacking, from Paris Saint-Germain in December.
Mauricio Pochettino replaced the 47-year-old despite him winning Ligue 1 in both his full seasons in France, as well as reaching last season’s Champions League final.
Reports of Tuchel wanting a move to Chelsea emerged soon after he left PSG.
The German is set to bring a number of his favoured backroom members with him, including former Marseille defender Zoumana Camara and assistant Arno Michels.
However it may be an awkward reunion with Thiago Silva, who left Paris for Chelsea in the summer.
The Brazilian remarked that his old coach’s sacking was ‘predictable’ after they experienced plenty of success together.
Tuchel ended a low-key playing career at the age of 24, after which he worked as a barman, studied for a degree and more recently took a liking to work as a model.
Following a stint in charge of Augsburg he took over Mainz after Jurgen Klopp left in 2009.
Inheriting a poorly-rated squad, he would go on to secure European qualification before a strong spell as Borussia Dortmund coach.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
