THOMAS TUCHEL has been SACKED by Chelsea following their disappointing defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in last night's Champions League fixture.
And Zinedine Zidane, Mauricio Pochettino and Graham Potter have been lined up as potential replacements as odds tumble on the favourites.
Anthony Barry will take over as interim manager while the club look to appoint a permanent replacement.
A Blues statement said: "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."
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- Alex Smith
Potter has buy-out clause
Brighton boss Graham Potter reportedly has a buy-out clause in his contract.
Journalist Guillem Balague claims it would take £16million to bring him from in from the Seagulls.
Potter is currently the bookies favourite to take over at Stamford Bridge.
- Alex Smith
Poor form nothing new
Chelsea's dip in form and performances began towards the end of last season.
Tuchel's first 50 games were a lot better than his last 50 and the defence leaked more goals.
- Alex Smith
Some stat
Just 350 days into his tenure as Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel became the first manager in the club's history to guide the Blues to the final of each of the League Cup, FA Cup and European Cup/UEFA Champions League.
Despite being in charge of Chelsea for just 589 days, no manager has ever reached more major domestic/European finals with the West Londoners than Tuchel (4).
He managed Chelsea for 100 matches.
- Alex Smith
Reunion – failed
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reportedly decided to join Chelsea because he wanted to work under Thomas Tuchel.
He was the striker's manager at Borussia Dortmund.
Aubameyang arrived on deadline day and just under a week later Tuchel is no longer in charge.
- Alex Smith
Big money spent
The sacking of Thomas Tuchel comes as a major shock given his £270million spending spree this summer.
He signed the likes of Raheem Sterling for £50m, Marc Cucurella for £60m and Wesley Fofana for £70m.
Tuchel was given just two games after the transfer window closed before being axed.
As some concerned Chelsea fans have pointed out, what if the new boss doesn't fancy some of the German's big money signings?
- Alex Smith
Tuchel's Chelsea honours
Thomas Tuchel won three major trophies at Chelsea:
Champions League: 2020/21
Super Cup: 2021
Club World Cup: 2021
Credit: Getty - Alex Smith
Who next?
Reports suggest that first-team coach Anthony Barry will likely take charge on an interim basis for the meantime as Chelsea look for a new manager.
But who are the early contenders to take over the vacant role?
The bookies have Brighton boss Graham Potter as favourite.
Graham Potter – 2/1
Mauricio Pochettino – 5/1
John Terry – 7/1
Zinedine Zidane – 8/1
Brendan Rodgers – 12/1
- Alex Smith
Ruthless Boehly
Previous owner Roman Abramovich was known for his brutal style of sacking manager and new man Todd Boehly is following in his footsteps.
He has only been in charge of the club for 100 days and he has axed his first manager.
According to the Telegraph, Tuchel lost the faith of Boehly and his players.
And they state that his future at Chelsea would have been in doubt even if they had claimed three points against Dinamo Zagreb.
- Alex Smith
Tuchel sacked – Club statement
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."
- Alex Smith
Tuchel sacked
Thomas Tuchel has been sacked as Chelsea boss just hours after his side lost to Dinamo Zagreb 1-0.
It was yet another poor performance from the Blues, they have lost three of their seven games in all competitions this season and new owner Todd Boehly has shown his ruthless side dismissing Tuchel.
They sit seventh in the Premier League table but even in matches they have won this season the displays have been unconvincing.
Tuchel leaves the club having just spent huge sums of money assembling a squad.
He will be best remembered by Chelsea fans for winning the Champions League in 2021.
- Alex Smith
BREAKING NEWS – TUCHEL SACKED
Thomas Tuchel has been sacked as Chelsea manager.
More to follow…
- Alex Smith
Tuchel's rage continues
Thomas Tuchel had more harsh words last night.
He also said: "It's an underperformance from us. We have the same story as always.
"We have an okay start, we don't finish our half-chances, we don't feel it when the game is already there to put to bed in the first 15-20 minutes.
"Then we concede one counter-attack, which is far too easy, and from there we struggled."
"I don't know where this performance comes from. It's a lack of hunger, intensity, a lack of determination to win duels, to actually do things on the highest level.
"You cannot expect to win games, not in the Premier League or Champions League. We are not where we want to be."
Credit: Getty - Alex Smith
Tuchel fuming
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel was left angry after his side lost to Dinamo Zagreb 1-0.
And he did not hold back in his post-match interview.
Tuchel said: "We are clearly not there, where we need to be and where we can be so it's on me, it's on us, we need to find solutions."
"At the moment, everything is missing, [there is] too much to analyse. I'm a part of it.
"I am angry at myself, I am angry at our performance. I didn't see it coming.
"We need to be much better. We are not finished, we are not happy but I thought we were on a good way. I am surprised by this performance."
- Alex Smith
Goalkeeper dilemma
Thomas Tuchel has a dilemma regarding what goalkeeper to choose for Chelsea's next game versus Fulham.
Edouard Mendy missed out last night due to a minor injury but he has made a number of errors this season.
Kepa Arrizabalaga played last night versus Dinamo Zagreb and was one of Chelsea's better players.
- Alex Smith
Chelsea's away day struggles continue
It was another lacklustre performance on the road from Chelsea last night – losing to Dinamo Zagreb 1-0.
It's not the first time the Blues have been poor away from Stamford Bridge this season as we recall defeats to Leeds and Southampton.
We will have all the latest match reaction here.
- Jake Lambourne
Good morning Chelsea fans
Chelsea suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League match of the season at the Maksimir Stadium.
Mislav Orsic netted the winner after just 13 minutes following a brilliant ball by Bruno Petkovic.
This upset adds to the Blues’ bumpy start to the campaign, which has seen them lose two out of six Premier League matches – of which they have won three.
And Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel didn't hold back in his post-match interview as he admitted "everything is missing" and the team's problems are very real.
Tuchel said: "It’s an underperformance from us. We don’t finish our half-chances We conceded a counterattack that is far too easy. And we lose the next match.
"There’s too much to analyse, I am part of this. At the moment, everything is missing. I will not talk about individuals, we play as a team, we lose as a team.
"I need to find a solution for the next match. It’s not enough, it has noting to do with a worry, that’s reality.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has liked a tweet about Mason Mount's contract situation, with talks expected to begin over a new deal.
Mount is currently tied down until 2024 at Stamford Bridge and it was reported that he is ready to hold talks about an extension.
And now Boehly has liked a tweet, an indication that the Blues will soon open a dialogue to complete a deal with the attacking midfielder.
Finally, Chelsea star Edouard Mendy has rejected a contract offer that was worth less than Kepa Arrizabalaga's deal.
Mendy was proposed less lucrative terms than backup goalie Kepa's £190,000-a-week earnings.
That's despite the goalkeeper being first choice between the sticks, and Kepa resigned to bench duty.
The Senegal international has turned down an initial offer from the West Londoners, according to the Evening Standard.
Kepa was handed a deal worth almost £200,000-a-week when he was signed from Athletic Bilbao for £71million back in 2018.
Mendy, on the other hand, has been one of the lowest earners at Stamford Bridge since his £22m arrival from Rennes in 2020.
- Kostas Lianos
Ferdinand on Mendy
Chelsea must be prepared to act if Edouard Mendy continues making errors, says Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand told Vibe with Five: "I think the biggest thing for Chelsea from this game is Edouard Mendy is becoming far too involved in situations like this.
"Against Leeds, he was at fault for the first goal. This one as well [against West Ham]. There’s been other occasions where he’s made mistakes and hasn’t been punished.
"They need to iron that out quick because he was brilliant last season, he was phenomenal.
"He needs to eradicate those mistakes from his game. You don’t want to be in the news as a goalkeeper. The less you talk about them the better they’re doing. At the moment he’s also in the news"
- Kostas Lianos
Ed in the clouds
Chelsea star Edouard Mendy has rejected a contract offer that was worth less than Kepa Arrizabalaga's deal.
Mendy, 30, was proposed less lucrative terms than backup goalie Kepa's £190,000-a-week earnings.
That's despite the goalkeeper being first choice between the sticks at Stamford Bridge, and Kepa resigned to bench duty.
And the Senegal international has turned down an initial offer from the West Londoners, according to the Evening Standard.
Kepa was handed a deal worth nearly £200k-a-week when he was signed from Athletic Bilbao for £71million back in 2018.
Mendy meanwhile has been one of the lowest earners at Stamford Bridge since his £22m arrival from Rennes in 2020
Credit: GETTY - Kostas Lianos
More from Tuchel
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is "angry" with himself because he didn't see that sort of performance and result coming.
Tuchel added: "Because I didn’t see it coming. Obviously I was in the wrong movie. I did not see that coming.
"I thought that the last game helped us, I thought we showed a reaction in a very difficult moment against West Ham, got the reaction, got the result in the moments when you need a bit of luck in the situation we were in.
"We had good training sessions, I thought the team was prepared, I thought we know what this is all about. I didn’t see it coming, that’s why I’m angry on myself"
- Kostas Lianos
'Angy' Thomas Tuchel
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel admitted he is "angry" with himself after the loss to Dinamo Zagreb and stated that his players are "underperforming".
"Of course, I'm angry at myself, I'm angry about our performance, this is a huge underperformance from all of us.
"It's not precise enough, it's not clinical enough, it's not aggressive enough on the ball, it's not determined enough, it's not good enough individually, it's not good enough as a team.
"Not a lot [of players are at the top of their game] at the moment. It’s for me to find the solution and find the reason why.
"Obviously they are underperforming individually and I don’t really know where this performance today comes from.
"A lack of determination, a lack of hunger and a lack of intensity to actually do the things that we need at the highest level. We are clearly not where we want to be"
- Kostas Lianos
Thomas Tuchel reacts
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel didn't hold back in his post-match press conference as he admitted "everything is missing" and the team's problems are very real.
Tuchel said: "It’s an underperformance from us. We don’t finish our half-chances We conceded a counterattack that is far too easy. And we lose the next match.
"There’s too much to analyse, I am part of this. At the moment, everything is missing. I will not talk about individuals, we play as a team, we lose as a team.
"I need to find a solution for the next match. It’s not enough, it has noting to do with a worry, that’s reality.
- Kostas Lianos
Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League match at the Maksimir Stadium.
Mislav Orsic scored the winner after just 13 minutes following a brilliant ball by Bruno Petkovic.
This upset adds to the Blues’ bumpy start to the season, which has seen them lose two out of six Premier League matches – of which they have won three.
Relive all the action from Chelsea’s Champions League loss in SunSport’s LIVE BLOG here
Credit: Rex - Kostas Lianos
Alonso left out
Barcelona have left new signing and former Chelsea ace Marcos Alonso out of their Champions League squad.
It comes after Alonso sealed a late move to Barca in the final stages of the summer transfer window.
Former Arsenal star and fellow late arrival Hector Bellerin was also omitted.
Barcelona manager Xavi said: "They are two signings, they have to get used to what we are doing.
"They haven’t had minutes this season and they need a little more physical work. Saturday they will be in the squad"
- Kostas Lianos
Hiddink looks back
Former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink thought the Blues' 2009 Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona might have been fixed – even though the referee owned up to making mistakes.
The West Londoners' were denied a penalty after the official Tom Henning Ovrebo made a series of blunders.
Hiddink told Ziggo Sport in 2020: "The referee performance surprised me, because in the past he’d had perfect performances.
"Is it the worst refereeing I’ve ever seen? I think so"
- Kostas Lianos
HT: Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 Chelsea
Chelsea are 1-0 down to Dinamo Zagreb at the Maksimir Stadium.
Mislav Orsic opened the scoring after just 13 minutes to shock the visiting Blues.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is making his debut for the West Londoners as he started in Thomas Tuchel's line-up.
Follow the live action from Chelsea’s Champions League clash in SunSport’s LIVE BLOG here
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