Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel has blasted Chelsea owner Todd Boehly for sacking Thomas Tuchel after a defeat by Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb. Todd Boehly sacked Thomas Tuchel and appointed former Brighton manager Graham Potter as the new manager.
The news of Thomas Tuchel’s sack came as a shock to fans and pundits alike. Although Chelsea had a slightly sluggish start to the Premier League season, most analysts believe that the German-born tactician should have been given enough time to make his blueprints on Todd Boehly’s new signings.
Nevertheless, it was evident that Thomas Tuchel would come under intense pressure from Todd Boehly after The American businessman and Roman Abramovich’s successor invested a whopping £273.5m into the squad, with new defenders gulping over £160m of the transfer spending.
Despite the arrival of top and costly defenders such as Kalidou Coulibaly from Napoli, Wesley Fofana from Leicester City, Marc Cucurella from Brighton, and team captain, Azpilicueta renewing his contract, Chelsea conceded goals in 6 of their 7 competitive matches, including the narrow 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb.
Azpilicueta admitted after the game that “everything was wrong and missing from the squad.” Sluggish and uncoordinated defending, poor finishing by the frontliners, and lack of creativity in the midfield. Todd Boehly sacked Tuchel hours after the match.
Some analysts and commentators have dismissed the decision to sack Tuchel by Todd Boehly as a knee-jerk and misinformed decision that may backfire in the nearest future.
In line with that, Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel openly criticized Todd Boehly after Tuchel’s sack. According to Heidel, ‘Todd Boehly knows nothing about football’ and will regret the decision to sack the former Borussia Dortmund manager.
Heidel maintained that Todd Boehly took an ‘investor decision and will not work out well for the American businessman. “Boehly’s decision will work perfectly well as a first to the mill of those who are against investments in football,” he added.
“Someone who has no idea about football probably thought that sixth place wasn’t good enough for him. Then let’s try another coach after only six games.
“I can’t think of any other reason. But Chelsea will bitterly regret this decision – they won’t get such a good coach again so quickly.’
“The sacking is grist to the mill of those who are against investors in football. It was purely an investor’s decision.”
Besides Christian Heidel’s comments, Todd Boehly’s sack of Tuchel sparked a debate among football analysts. Thomas Tuchel took over the managerial role on a great note. Just a few months in charge, he guided the team to their second UEFA Champions League title defeating Premier League rivals Manchester City 1-0 in the final.
Tuchel guided Chelsea to the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. This has raised questions about the potency of Todd Boehly’s decision to dismiss the 47-year-old after a few matches to the start of the 2022/23 football season.
Despite his heavy investment into the team, many suggest that he would have allowed the new crop of signings to be adapted to Tuchel’s planned strategy and tactics before the assessment, judgment, and decision.
Graham Potter has resumed duties as Chelsea manager and will be expected to put up a superior performance in the Champions League and Premier League as well. However, despite a brilliant outing with Brighton in the Premier League, Graham Potters’ chances may be very slim as Chelsea is the first big European club he has managed, unlike his predecessor.
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