Pundit shares Todd Boehly ‘whispers’ from Chelsea
Noel Whelan has insisted the 1-0 Champions League loss against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday (6 September) was the “final nail in the coffin” for Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the “disharmony” between manager and owner Todd Boehly made it “very hard to carry on” for the German.
Chelsea confirmed on Wednesday (7 September) that they had parted company with Tuchel in the wake of their loss in Croatia.
The Blues have moved quickly to replace the former PSG boss with Graham Potter.
Chelsea started the new campaign with just 10 points from a possible 18 despite spending a British-record £271.1million during the summer window – with losses against Leeds and Southampton leaving Tuchel on the brink.
According to The Athletic (8 September), the former Blues boss felt he didn’t get the signings he needed during the summer – with communication between owner and manager “drying up” after the loss against the Whites.
Whelan suggested the disquiet off the pitch will have affected the playing staff.
He told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “I think it was the performances that were the final straw.
“They’ve taken a while to get going, they’ve spent a lot of money. I think the Champions League disaster was the final nail in the coffin for Tuchel.
“We’re hearing whispers about the owners and him not seeing eye to eye, and that is crucial. Having that disharmony between the two camps can really reflect on the players.
“It’s very hard to carry on when the relationship is like that – and the performances on the pitch are not good enough.
“They made a swift decision and brought in a very good manager.”
In other news, pundit claims Chelsea may regret appointing Potter after Sky reveal.