“CHELSEA EXIT STILL HURTS ME” – TUCHEL OPENS UP ON SHOCKING LAST DAY IN SW6
Read Time:2 Minute, 35 Second
Thomas Tuchel has revealed how his reign at Chelsea ended in a brutal three minute meeting, admitting the pain of leaving the club still lingers.
The German begins a fresh chapter tomorrow when his new Bayern Munich team plays against his old Borussia Dortmund side, his first time in the dug out since parting ways with the North London side.
Tuchel said he is invigorated by the challenge and is excited about the opportunity of pursuing a Treble.
Tuchel had hardly spoken about his abrupt dismissal from Stamford Bridge, where he had won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup – as well as reaching the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals – after his appointment in January 2021.
Tuchel was the public face of Chelsea at one of the most challenging times in their modern history but he was jettisoned last September, the morning after a 1-0 defeat by Dinamo Zagreb, on what was the 100th day of Todd Boehly’s new ownership.
“It was a shock,” said Tuchel, who answered questions from journalists at Bayern’s training base.
“I felt it, strangely, when I drove to the training centre. The meeting we had felt unusual – and it turned out to be a very short meeting. It was 8am, or something, and it lasted three to five minutes. I was also not in the mood to talk longer.
“The decision had been made and, honestly, it was a shock for all of us. We had a feeling that we were in the right spot at the right time. We felt that we could achieve big things and we wanted to stay longer – it was as simple as that.
“We had big relationships, huge relationships within the staff. We still do. How long did it take me to get over? It still hurts in a way – I’m not able to see these people on a daily basis. I love this job: I have a passion for it, I can tell you.
“We built an extraordinary bond in the circumstances. We started there during Covid, during Brexit – then came the change of ownership. We were a strong, strong group (at Cobham). It wasn’t in my hands to take this decision. I was no longer part of this group, a group that felt like a family.”
One accusation levelled after Tuchel had left was that he had lost the dressing room and players had become worn down; he had been irritable during the club’s tour of the United States last summer and insisted things needed to change.
Beating Dortmund tomorrow, would ignite the title race and set them up for a big week that includes a DFB Pokal quarter-final against Freiburg and the first leg of the Champions League last eight showdown with Manchester City.
“‘The week I have spent here has been very demanding,” said Tuchel. “But, really, there is no funnier place in football than a dressing room. There is so much love in there, so much spirit and so much joy. That is what I missed the most (about Chelsea).”
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0