BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea sack Tuchel after Champions League shock

By Sports Desk September 07, 2022

Thomas Tuchel has sensationally been sacked by Chelsea following Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, the Blues have confirmed.

The German was appointed as the successor to club legend Frank Lampard in January 2021 and led Chelsea to Champions League glory with a 1-0 over Manchester City in May of the same year.

More success followed in the form of trophies in the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup, but Tuchel also lost two FA Cup finals and an EFL Cup final – beaten in both domestic cup showpieces on penalties to Liverpool last term.

Related items

  • Al Hilal 3-1 Al Fateh: Neves on target as Saudi giants close in on title Al Hilal 3-1 Al Fateh: Neves on target as Saudi giants close in on title

    Al Hilal moved 12 points clear of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr at the top of the Saudi Pro League as Ruben Neves scored in a 3-1 win over Al Fateh on Friday.

    Former Wolves star Neves slotted in from the penalty spot in the 74th minute, as Al Hilal completed a rapid comeback.

    Having fallen behind to Lucas Zelarayan's 57th-minute opener, Al Hilal responded swiftly through Micheal before Salem Al Najdi fouled Mohammed Al Qahtani in the penalty area.

    Ex-Barcelona winger Cristian Trello and Al Fateh coach Slaven Bilic were booked for their complaints, with Neves making no mistake, paving the way for Ali Al Bulayhi to seal victory in the 15th minute of an extended period of stoppage time.

    Data Debrief

    Al Hilal have now won 21 games on the spin in the league. They have scored 86 goals across their 28 matches this season, winning 26 in total.

    They had 19 shots on Friday, accumulating 2.34 xG to Al Fateh's 0.25, with pass-master Neves creating three chances to go along with his goal.

  • RFEF elects Rocha as new president RFEF elects Rocha as new president

    The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has confirmed Pedro Rocha as its new president.

    Rocha has been elected as Luis Rubiales' replacement, despite being under investigation for corruption.

    He had been serving as interim president since Rubiales resigned in September over the scandal caused when he kissed player Jenni Hermoso following Spain's Women's World Cup triumph in August.

    In a statement released on Friday, the RFEF said: "Pedro Rocha has today been proclaimed the new president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), after having received the support of the majority of the assembly members of this institution that governs Spanish football.

    "The process followed the procedure agreed by the Electoral Commission, which met this morning, and the timetable that was established for these elections."

    Rocha has been under investigation since earlier in April, after the RFEF's headquarters was raided by police last month. The Spanish government announced on Thursday that it would be stepping in to oversee the running of the organisation.

  • Tuchel insists Bayern Munich coach search not affecting team's focus Tuchel insists Bayern Munich coach search not affecting team's focus

    Bayern Munich's search for coach Thomas Tuchel's successor is not distracting the team from their preparations for next week's Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid or their final Bundesliga matches.

    That was the vow from Tuchel before Bayern first face Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday with the league title already secured by Bayer Leverkusen.

    Bayern will part ways with Tuchel at the end of a disappointing domestic season, a year earlier than his contract.

    Austria coach Ralf Rangnick confirmed this week there had been contact with Bayern while several other coaches have been linked with the club.

    Tuchel, however, said the team was shutting out any such distractions as they chase a spot in the Champions League final.

    "In the next 11 days it can only be football and the goals we can still reach," Tuchel told a press conference. 

    "We want to collect points [in the Bundesliga] to get the best result and reach the Champions League final.

    "For anything else, there is just no capacity at the moment, whether it is comfortable or uncomfortable despite the many issues."

    With no chance of domestic silverware and Bayern battling to hold on to second place, three points ahead of third-placed Stuttgart whom they face in 10 days, Tuchel said it was clear Tuesday's game against Real Madrid was on everyone's mind already.

    "I can accept and it is important that we all accept it that there is this background noise against Frankfurt," Tuchel said. 

    "We don't have to tell ourselves a fairytale that we are only thinking 100% about Eintracht.

    "There is this background noise that the Real Madrid game plays a role. When I get my coffee in the morning people don't say 'good luck for tomorrow' they say 'good luck for Tuesday' to me."

    Bayern still have some injury concerns for the coming games with Dayot Upamecano doubtful after twisting an ankle in training and Leroy Sane racing to get fit in time for Tuesday.

    Tuchel said: "We have a test [against Frankfurt] and either we are distracted or we find solutions. Put on ear plugs or headphones and study for the test. That is my task." 

    The former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss was also asked about over 12,000 Bayern supporters signing a petition asking for him to remain at the club.

    "Even though this topic is good for me when they [the fans] wish you to stay, it's not something that is a priority and it isn't allowed to be a priority," he said.

    "Whether it's pleasant or unpleasant, I don't allow myself to be influenced by it. We're only focusing on every day counting towards our goals and there is no exception here.

    "This question is like the neighbour that is noisy at three in the morning, if we're honest! I'll set my headphones to noise-cancelling mode and ignore that. 

    "This topic won't help me on Saturday and won't help me on Tuesday - and it is not my topic."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.