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Thomas Tuchel reacts to Chelsea sacking Graham Potter and Julian Nagelsmann connections.
Thomas Tuchel has acknowledged that because he no longer is familiar with life at Stamford Bridge, he would be unable to provide Julian Nagelsmann with any advice about going to Chelsea.
Under the former owner Roman Abramovich, Tuchel rose to prominence at Chelsea, but the new Todd Boehly–Clearlake Capital ownership decided to replace him with Graham Potter and gave him his marching orders early in the current season.
Six months later and Potter has been given the boot as well – just over a week after Tuchel himself returned to work with Bayern Munich.
Chelsea’s interest in Julian Nagelsmann, who Tuchel succeeded at Munich has emerged as the early favourite to fill the vacant Stamford Bridge position, has set off something of a managerial merry-go-round.
Asked whether he would advise Nagelsmann to move to Chelsea, Tuchel said: “I saw the news [of Potter’s exit] late last night. It’s awful timing as it coincided with my appointment here.
“It took me a while to distance myself from Chelsea. I really enjoyed working there and formed friendships for life. But the club has changed a lot, which has made it easier to distance myself, so it didn’t really trigger big emotions in me.
“I could not give advice [to Nagelsmann] because the club has changed.”
Given that Bayern Munich is close to finalizing a deal that would see the Chelsea coach reconnect with Tuchel, Anthony Barry may soon follow Potter out the exit door.
Chelsea is now looking for a new manager and is said to be interested in Luis Enrique, Mauricio Pochettino, and Ruben Amorim in addition to Nagelsmann.