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      Tuchel naive at best, stupid at worst, for staying loyal to Chelsea as he’s sacked two weeks after contract talks

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      THOMAS TUCHEL was talking new contracts with Chelsea just two weeks ago.Now he is looking for a new job.
      Tuchel was sacked on Wednesday following defeat to Dinamo ZagrebCredit: Getty
      Back then he confirmed SunSport’s exclusive story that the club wanted him to commit to a new deal with a few simple words, then moved on to stress that the most important thing was the team.
      When rudderless Manchester United made it plain they quite fancied Tuchel as their next manager towards the end of last season, the German was outspoken in his commitment to his employers.
      He would not jump ship and was happy to stay loyal to the club that gave him a chance to manage in the Premier League and raise his profile beyond all previous measure.
      On reflection, the uber-intellectual coach dubbed ‘The Professor’ looks naive at best, stupid at worst.
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      That is because his sacking confirms there is no place for sentiment at Stamford Bridge and that loyalty will ultimately do for you.
      Tuchel was not expecting to get the chop so few hours after his team’s collapse in Croatia.
      He acknowledged relations with chairman Todd Boehly had been on the slide for some time.
      But he did not realise that an opening group game 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb was the moment his boss had been waiting for.
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      And he took the punch right between the eyes at the training ground just before 10am having only got back to England at around 4am.
      He admitted to not seeing Tuesday’s hopeless performance from his players coming.
      He should have seen what was coming next though.
      All summer, there has been a steadily brewing discord between Tuchel and the new board of directors he reported to — but in particular Boehly.
      The German is likely to be replaced by Brighton’s Graham PotterCredit: Alamy
      Disagreement over Boehly’s desire to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United went Tuchel’s way and the plan was dropped.
      That disagreement highlights the different philosophies of the two men about players.
      Boehly clearly fancies razzmatazz and showbiz signings when it comes to players.
      He loved being pictured with new arrivals and hanging around and shooting the breeze with them at the training ground.
      Tuchel disagreed with Boehly’s desire to sign RonaldoCredit: Alamy
      Tuchel’s preference was for a new centre-half.
      He got two in the end but despite a world record investment of £259.1million in the summer, Chelsea’s head coach was still not happy.
      To the extent that after the recent embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Southampton, a message was sent to a Chelsea director containing extremely colourful language about the state of the squad.
      The dithering over a deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was another bone of contention.
      There is a feeling Tuchel had a blind spot for AubameyangCredit: Rex
      At 33, Chelsea did not fancy handing out a three-year deal to a player many see as way past his prime. Understandably so.
      There is a feeling that Tuchel has a blind spot for Aubameyang. That he is starstruck by the wayward striker’s glittering personality.
      And that, having managed him seven years ago, he could bring back the 25-year-old Aubameyang.
      Chelsea struck a compromise with Aubameyang.
      The striker signed on a two-year deal with an option for a thirdCredit: Getty
      A two-year contract with the option of a third to keep him on his toes.
      He only made his Blues debut on Tuesday — seven games into the season and almost two months since striker Romelu Lukaku went back to Inter Milan.
      Managerial sackings at Chelsea are as much a part of daily life as groin strains.
      The joke is that the club uses non-drying paint to mark out the coach’s car park space at the training ground.
      Chelsea are expected to appoint a manager who’ll be in charge for the long-term futureCredit: EPA
      In Tuchel’s case the story is a fascinating one given the way the geeky-looking, 6ft 5in beanpole, managed to grow even more in stature while steering his club through the worst moments in their 117-year history.
      When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Chelsea were unwillingly dragged into a war through Roman Abramovich’s links to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
      Government sanctions, a stranglehold on finances, an emergency takeover ordered by No 10. The very existence of one of our top clubs called into question.
      While the hierarchy took the chance to cower in a bunker and hide from the public, Tuchel took on the role of leading statesman.
      Boehly and Co spent upwards of £250m in the transfer windowCredit: Getty
      Cannot afford a plane to fly to Lille? “I’ll drive the bus,” he said.
      He was also honest in admitting most rival clubs would be delighted to see his team failing.
      There followed a series of Churchillian addresses during the height of the crisis and during which he landed the one trophy that had up to then eluded Chelsea — the Club World Cup.
      This followed victory in the European Super Cup, a few months after winning the Champions League.
      Tuchel leaves Chelsea with three trophies under his beltCredit: Getty
      There is no doubt that Chelsea have fallen away in recent times and the team was an utter shambles against Zagreb.
      Master tactician Tuchel was unable to plot a course past a side with one twelfth the budget of his.
      Formations changed, baffling substitutions made, sulky fringe players dragged off the bench to try to save his neck and it failed.
      Boehly and his cohort from US investors Clearlake Capital promised many things when their £4.25bn takeover was announced on May 22.
      The German guided Chelsea to their second-ever Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      They were careful not to pledge public loyalty to the head coach.
      Even so, you might have expected there to a bit of credit in the bank from the way Tuchel kept the ship afloat during stormy waters.
      Had he signed that new two-year deal, Tuchel would have collected a substantial pay rise.
      He will now walk away with a pay-off worth nearly £13m.
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      Either way, he will not go short and the odds are that he will be back in management again soon.
      And even the Professor may have learned a lesson about public loyalty. More

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      Axed Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel walks away with £13m pay-off after ‘marriage split changed relationship with players’

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      AXED Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel left with a £13million pay-off yesterday after losing his grip on players who gossiped about his private life.Tuchel, 49, was sacked after his side’s 1-0 defeat in their Champions League opener at Dinamo Zagreb.
      Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel nets a £13million ‘golden goodbye’, pictured with new lover: Natalie Max, 35Credit: BackGrid
      The axed boss, 49, leaves Chelsea lying sixth in the Premier League after his side’s 1-0 defeat in their opener at Dinamo Zagreb, pictured: with ex-wife SissyCredit: Getty
      Sourced reveal ‘perceptions of him changed’ after his marriage breakdownCredit: AP
      His crumbling relationship with the club’s supremo Todd Boehly was said to also be at the heart of the end of his careerCredit: Getty
      It emerged that the German — who had led Chelsea to three trophies in 20 months, including the Champions League title — would have been fired by The Blues’ new American owners regardless of Tuesday’s result.
      His crumbling relationship with the club’s superstars and supremo Todd Boehly was said to be at the heart of his demise.
      Football sources said “perceptions of him changed” after he split in May from Sissi, his wife of 13 years, and fell for Brazilian mum of two Natalie Max, 35.
      Tuchel’s love life was said to be often “on the lips” of his multi-millionaire players.
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      He took Natalie to Sardinia in July, just days after his divorce was granted. They were snapped on a sunset yacht trip and stayed at a £20,000-a-night private villa.
      One source said: “He’d stopped getting through. It probably didn’t help that some players had been talking about his private life.
      “It played into how the perception of him transformed.
      “He was no longer the genius.
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      “He was a difficult character, whose demands weren’t always clear.
      “A number of players bristled that he didn’t really trust them.
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      “It all just fed into this fractious start to the season.”
      Tuchel — on an estimated £7million a year — nets a £13million “golden goodbye” as he leaves big-spenders Chelsea lying sixth in the Premier League. More

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      Man Utd legend Gary Neville mockingly comes up with new name for Todd Boehly after Chelsea owner axes Thomas Tuchel

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      GARY NEVILLE has mocked Chelsea owner Todd Boehly’s decision to sack Thomas Tuchel by comparing him to ex-Manchester United chief Ed Woodward again.The Blues shocked the football world today by sacking the German coach.
      Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has been criticised for sacking Thomas TuchelCredit: Rex
      Gary Neville has mocked the American again for a third timeCredit: Getty
      Chelsea have suffered a difficult start to the campaign, despite a record outlay in the summer transfer window.
      And last night’s shock Champions League defeat at Dinamo Zagreb proved to be Tuchel’s final game in charge.
      American Boehly, whose takeover of the club was only completed 100 days ago, decided to act after just seven games of the season.
      United legend Neville reacted to the surprise news by tweeting: “Todd Woodward.”
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      Neville first mocked the Chelsea supermo’s approach to the transfer market last month by comparing him to the unpopular ex-United vice-chairman Woodward.
      He then retweeted several posts that slammed Boehly’s leadership of the Blues.
      Tuchel led Chelsea to Champions League glory, the Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup since taking charge in January 2021 as well as suffering defeats in both domestic cups via penalty shoot-outs last term.
      They spent almost £300m on new players but have won just three games this term and sit sixth in the Premier League.
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      Neville also criticised Boehly in a reply to former England team-mate John Terry after last month’s defeat at Southampton.
      The Sky Sports pundit wrote: “Your man Todd Woodward needs to stop wandering round like a kid in a sweet shop.”
      A Chelsea supporter then hit back by claiming that not every American is like United’s owners the Glazer family.
      Neville replied: “It’s just scattergun and unsustainable. I doubt this approach will go well.”
      Neville then compared Chelsea’s transfer policy under Boehly to United’s under Woodward on the Overlap, saying: “Chelsea have got that sort of, Manchester United under the Glazers, Ed Woodward, ‘I’m taking over, I’m the man now, I’m going to go out and basically buy the players’ and then they’re linked with every player that Barcelona want, every player that City want, every player that United want.
      “They’re almost like bouncing around because it feels like he [Todd Boehly] has to do something.
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      “I’m hearing his name too much. It feels like, it’s not to be disrespectful, you know he’s a prominent guy, he’s just bought the club and everything.
      “He’s fronted a fund that’s paid two and a half billion quid, but to get rid of all that football operation that’s been unbelievable for that many years and come in and do it yourself, it does feel like Ed Woodward that to me. We’ll see it develop.”
      However, some might think Neville’s reaction is a bit rich when his League Two Salford City have had four managers in the last two years. More

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      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang plays just 59 MINUTES under Thomas Tuchel as Chelsea manager sacked days after dream reunion

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      PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG played just 59 minutes under Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea before the German was brutally sacked.Tuchel played a big role in luring Aubameyang to Stamford Bridge this summer.
      Aubameyang played just 59 minutes under Tuchel at ChelseaCredit: Rex
      The striker expressed his excitement to work with the German again when he signedCredit: Rex
      Having worked with the striker, 33, at Borussia Dortmund, he was able to convince Aubameyang to complete a deadline day return to the Premier League.
      He said on Tuchel after signing for Chelsea: “It will be an honour and a joy again [to play with Tuchel], we had some good times in Dortmund together so I am really happy to play for him again.
      “We will achieve some big things, I am sure of this and I will try to help the team.”
      Masked up Aubameyang made his Chelsea debut on Tuesday night in the Blues’ Champions League group stage opener against Dinamo Zagreb.

      It comes as:

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      However, Aubameyang played just 59 minutes and saw a goal be chalked off for offside in the shock 1-0 defeat to the Croatian champions.
      And the loss was the final nail in Tuchel’s coffin, with new owner Todd Boehly brutally swinging the axe.
      Tuesday’s loss wasn’t the only reason as to why Chelsea could have sacked Tuchel.
      The Blues got off to a poor start in the Premier League, losing two of their six games played.
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      They also just about scraped by against London rivals West Ham on Saturday – only thanks to a dodgy referee/VAR decision.
      Chelsea spent £259million in the summer transfer window with Boehly heavily backing Tuchel – leaving many questioning the sacking.
      A Chelsea statement read: “Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with Head Coach Thomas Tuchel.
      “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.
      “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. 
      “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. 
      “Chelsea’s coaching staff will take charge of the team for training and the preparation of our upcoming matches as the Club moves swiftly to appoint a new head coach.
      “There will be no further comment until a new head coach appointment is made.”
      Brighton boss Graham Potter appears to be the early frontrunner for the job.
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      Potter is set to travel to London on Wednesday to speak to Chelsea about their vacant head coach position.
      SunSport understands they want a new gaffer in place before Saturday’s West London derby against Fulham – and are VERY confident that will be 47-year-old Potter. More

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      Tuchel’s love life ‘was hot topic in Chelsea dressing room with stars gossiping about divorce and younger girlfriend’

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      THOMAS TUCHEL’S love live is said to have been centre of gossip in the Chelsea dressing room.The German has been shockingly sacked as Blues boss just 100 games and two seasons into his reign.
      Thomas Tuchel with his former wife SissiCredit: Getty
      Natalie Max pictured on holiday with Thomas TuchelCredit: BackGrid
      Since the stunning announcement, revelations about Tuchel’s final months in charge at Stamford Bridge have emerged.
      According to The Independent, even the manager’s divorce from wife Sissi and new relationship with Natalie Max were discussed among Chelsea stars.
      And it is even claimed some players changed their perception of Tuchel around the time he split with Sissi after 13 years of marriage and later dated Natalie.
      Tuchel, 49, and Sissi, 46, announced their marriage was over in April and parted officially in May after filing for divorce.
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      PSG’s former boss, who has two daughters with Sissi, in July was spotted with Brazilian Natalie, 35, as the pair holidayed in Sardinia.
      The London-based mum-of-two runs her own business and is believed to have grown close with Tuchel following restaurant dates.
      It has now been claimed that the Champions League-winning manager’s private life became a contributing factor among football-related issues to his dismissal as players began to view him in a different light.
      SunSport can also reveal throughout the summer the distance between Tuchel and the new owners had been steadily growing.
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      Sources at Chelsea claim he was growing increasingly fed up and believed that the new owners wanted to control every aspect of his job.
      Behind the scenes on the club’s US tour in the summer, Tuchel was rumoured to be unhappy.
      His discussions over transfers with Boehly were strained.
      There was a definite split over the plan by American Boehly to try to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United – a move Tuchel did not support.
      The German won the day on that occasion and only last week Tuchel stated that he had been fully involved and in agreement over the club’s world record £270million spending spree in the close season.
      However, behind the scenes tension has been brewing for some time and it was reflected in results.
      Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard in January 2021 and went on to win the Champions League, leaves off the back of a 1-0 loss at Dinamo Zagreb.
      Thomas Tuchel with his ex-wife and two daughtersCredit: Getty More

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      Wolves appeal for Diego Costa work permit ACCEPTED with ex-Chelsea star flying to England tonight ahead of free transfer

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      WOLVES have reportedly had their work permit appeal for Diego Costa accepted.The former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker is now due to fly to England tonight to finalise his switch to Molineux.
      File photo dated 18-02-2020 of Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa. Wolves have appealed against the decision to reject Diego Costa’s work permit application. Issue date: Tuesday September 6, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Wolves. Photo credit should read Nick Potts/PA Wire.Credit: PA
      His medical has already been arranged and now he looks set to pen a one-year contract to seal his return to the Premier League.
      Spanish international Costa only missed out on the work permit by two points.
      The 33-year-old had to gain 15 points on the Home Office’s points-based system to be given their blessing to play in the UK – but Costa fell just short with 13.
      The main objection to the Brazilian-born forward’s bid to sign for Wolves centred around his lack of recent match-time at club level and recent lack of international appearances for Spain.
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      Costa only made 19 appearances for his previous club Atletico Mineiro and hasn’t played competitively since December, prior to terminating his contract with the Brazilian club in January.
      However the fact his initial application was rejected by such a narrow margin encouraged Wolves to push ahead with an appeal.
      Now Fabrizio Romano has offered this update on Twitter: “Wolves appeal for Diego Costa’s work permit/appeal has been accepted.
      “Diego will fly to England later tonight to discuss final details of the free transfer. Medical tests have been scheduled and it will be a key step to proceed — one year contract ready.”
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      The Molineux club focused their appeal on the exceptional career Costa enjoyed and his pedigree as an elite athlete, which saw him perform at the highest level for club and country for over a decade.
      Costa, who turns 34 next month, failed to meet the FA’s required threshold and failed to receive their endorsement but Wolves were always hopeful that they could bridge the gap as they supplied further evidence of the player’s unique situation.
      They pointed out that Spain are currently ranked 6th in the world by Fifa and unlikely to recall Costa once he returned to the nation of his birth.
      The Stamford Bridge legend is keen to answer Wolves SOS for a striker after new £15million signing Sasa Kalajdzic suffered an ACL injury on his debut against Southampton, which will sideline him for most of the season. More

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      Wesley Fofana only Chelsea player to post on social media after Thomas Tuchel sacked as team-mates go silent

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      CHELSEA star signing Wesley Fofana paid tribute to Thomas Tuchel after his Stamford Bridge exit.And it seems like Fofana, who only joined the Blues on transfer deadline day, is the only player to have addressed the shock development so far.
      Chelsea star Wesley Fofana paid tribute to Thomas Tuchel with a touching picCredit: Getty
      Thomas Tuchel played an important role in Wesley Fofana’s arrivalCredit: Rex
      Tuchel was sacked following Tuesday’s miserable 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the West Londoners’ Champions League opener.
      This piled up on a poor start in the Premier League that has seen Chelsea lose two out of their opening six matches.
      But Fofana honoured his now former manager by taking to Instagram and sharing a touching pic of them together from training.
      Tuchel was very keen on signing the centre-back in the summer transfer window and played a key role in his £70million move from Leicester.

      It comes as:

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      But the France international will soon be playing under a new manager with Chelsea already searching for the German’s replacement.
      According to the Telegraph, Tuchel lost the faith of new club owner Todd Boehly and his players, who appear to have gone silent after news of his dismissal broke.
      The same source states that the former Paris Saint-Germain manager’s future at Chelsea would have been in doubt even if they had claimed three points in Zagreb.
      First team coach Anthony Barry will likely take charge on an interim basis for the meantime as the Blues look for a new manager.
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      SunSport has exclusively revealed Brighton boss Graham Potter is among the early frontrunners for the full-time job with talks scheduled to take place today.
      Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane are also on Chelsea’s shortlist, as well as Benfica manager Roger Schmidt. More

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      Nice manager does not know what position Ross Barkley plays in after shock free transfer swoop for ex-Chelsea star

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      NICE boss Lucien Favre seemingly didn’t know what position new signing Ross Barkley played in before snapping him up.England international Barkley joined the Ligue 1 side on a free transfer last week following the mutual termination of his Chelsea contract.
      Ross Barkley joined Nice on a free transfer last weekCredit: OGC NICE
      But manager Lucien Farve seemingly didn’t know the England international’s position before signing himCredit: REX
      But the midfielder’s talents were seemingly unknown to his new manager before he touched down in the French Riviera.
      During a press conference on Wednesday, a journalist asked Farve: “In your mind, is he [Barkley] more of a six, more of an eight?”
      And Farve’s response proved to be an admission of him being unsure where to deploy Barkley.
      He said: “I’m told he’s more of an eight.”
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      Barkley, 28, has yet to feature for Favre’s side – who are currently toiling in 16th place in the Ligue 1 table.
      The former Everton man was officially unveiled to Nice fans last Sunday ahead of their clash with Monaco.
      Barkley has yet to comment on his arrival at the Allianz Riviera Stadium, although he did pen an emotional goodbye message to Chelsea fans a few days earlier.
      He wrote: “After four and a half years at Stamford Bridge it’s time now to move on to my next challenge.
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      “I’d like to thank everyone connected with @ChelseaFC for making me feel so welcome during my time at the club and despite many ups and downs, I leave with many fantastic memories and lifelong friends.
      “I will always be grateful and look back fondly at the time I spent as a Blue.
      “I’d like to wish the owners, coaching staff, players and of course the fantastic Chelsea fans all the very best for the future and good luck for the season.
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      “I’m feeling fit and strong and am excited for what the future brings!”
      Barkley could make his Nice debut on Thursday night when The Eaglets host FC Koln for their first Europa League Group D match.
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