KEY POINTS

  • Chelsea recently fired head coach Thomas Tuchel
  • Former Brighton boss Graham Potter came in as their new boss
  • Chelsea's upcoming game is against Salzburg in the UCL

Thomas Tuchel has broken silence on his sacking by Chelsea, saying he is "devastated" that his time with the Blues has come to an end.

Last week, Chelsea fired Tuchel after their 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League fixture. At that time, Chelsea had 10 points from six league games and were sixth in the 2022-23 Premier League table.

Tuchel, who took over Chelsea's charge in the middle of the 2019-20 season, led the Stamford Bridge side to Champions League glory in his maiden campaign. He took to social media Monday and said he "felt at home" at Chelsea, "both professionally and personally."

"This is one of the most difficult statements I have ever had to write - and it is one which I hoped I would not need to do for many years. I am devastated that my time at Chelsea has come to an end. This is a club where I felt at home, both professionally and personally. Thank you so much to all the staff, the players and the supporters for making me feel very welcome from the start," Tuchel wrote in a tweet.

"The pride and joy I felt at helping the team to win the Champions League and the Club World Cup will stay with me forever. I am honored to have been a part of this club's history and the memories of the last 19 months will always have a special place in my heart," the German manager added.

Former Brighton manager Graham Potter has replaced Tuchel as Chelsea's head coach. The Blues paid around $26 million to secure the English boss, who moved to London on a five-year contract.

Before Tuchel's sacking, Chelsea had already lost three games in the ongoing term. Ahead of their first loss of the season, which came against Leeds United, Tuchel expressed his satisfaction at the club and had said he was hopeful of signing a new contract.

"My people talk to the owners and take care of everything else. You know how glad I am to be here and how much I like it," said Tuchel in an interview.

Chelsea have sacked manager Thomas Tuchel

Chelsea's league fixture against Fulham this weekend got postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Their upcoming Champions League match is against RB Salzburg at home Wednesday.