Sacking Tuchel, Hiring and Firing Potter: What Did Todd Boehly Achieve?

• Chelsea yesterday relieved head coach Graham Potter of his duties after seven months in charge
• He left the team 11th on the table after a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa in his final game in charge
• His assistant Bruno Saltor will take charge on an interim basis until a replacement is found

Chelsea yesterday took the decision to relieve head coach Graham Potter of his duties after seven months in charge, despite handing him a lengthy contract.

It was a decision that should have come earlier but wins against Leeds United, Borussia Dortmund and Leicester City delayed it. Perhaps, co-owner and chairman Todd Boehly's defiance delayed it.

Boehly started on the good side of where former owner Roman Abramovich failed. He appointed a team of seven men in the sporting department, including Paul Winstanley and Christopher Vivell, according to a club statement.

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However, the appointment of Potter and handing him a five-year contract worth £60m to oversee a team in transition and manage a team of winners, bolstered by over £600m worth of talent, was the ultimate gamble which never paid off.

Potter unpopular among Chelsea players

The former Brighton manager, whose only career trophy was a Swedish Cup with Ostersunds, replaced a highly successful Thomas Tuchel, who won three trophies at the club.

Independent reported that the players liked him but felt uninspired because they were led by a manager who had never managed at an elite level before and whom they never respected.

Evening Standard reported that the senior players in the team were less vocal, and some of the players had an 'unflattering nickname', calling the former Swansea manager Harry Potter.

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Wrong move from the start

According to Times UK, Thomas Tuchel clashed with Chelsea bosses in his final days over his involvement in the transfer market, and the hierarchy was not pleased with the German talking about his contract renewal as there were no talks ongoing.

Fans were emotionally attached to Tuchel, and it would have taken another elite manager to win them over. Carlo Ancelotti, José Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp, and possibly Max Allegri were some of those but all were employed at that time.

It should have been a step higher than the previous reign, but Boehly dug deep and gave out a contract and salary package that reflected his poor football knowledge and ego to a manager he sacked just seven months later.

It was a waste of resources and time, and one can only wonder what informed the decision and why it took so long to realise and make amends.

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Potter linked to Leicester job

Graham Potter was not the only English club manager to lose his job yesterday. Leicester City also parted ways with Irish manager Brendan Rodgers.

The Foxes are interested in Potter, as Sports Brief earlier reported. The 2016 champions are considered admirers of the 47-year-old, and he could be called upon to save the team from relegation.