The decision to get rid of the German came out of the blue – but not everyone will be gutted to see Tuchel go.
Wow. Hands up if you were expecting that?! Chelsea took us all by surprise on Wednesday as they announced that they'd had enough of Thomas Tuchel. Gone already, just six league games into the 2022-23 season. Todd Boehly doesn't mess about.
This is the very same Thomas Tuchel who, a little over a year ago, had masterminded an improbable Champions League run that saw the Blues crowned champions of Europe. How times can change.
So with the German leaving Stamford Bridge, who stands to win and who loses? Let's get into it, shall we?
Getty ImagesWINNER: Christian Pulisic
What has happened to Christian Pulisic?
It seemed to be a match made in heaven in the beginning. Ex-Dortmund boss linking up with ex-Dortmund player once again. The Tuchel-Pulisic reunion appeared to have the makings of something special.
Truth is, the more Tuchel's tenure progressed, the less we saw of Pulisic. Yes, there were injuries but it can't all be put down to fitness issues. Something wasn't quite right.
It wasn't all bad – we saw flashes of Pulisic's talent last season, but too often he was an afterthought and spent way too much time either in the treatment room or on the bench.
With Tuchel gone, Pulisic – who ultimately remained at Stamford Bridge despite talk of leaving in the summer – will at least have a fresh start and we might finally start seeing the best of him.
The challenge now is to get himself fully fit.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang can't seem to catch a break.
The former Arsenal striker had only been back in London for five minutes and already his coaching mentor – who will have played a significant role in signing him in the first place – is out the door.
We're being a bit harsh – the new man in charge, whoever it may be, might buy into the whole Aubameyang return narrative and get the best out of him, but there's also a fairly big risk that he won't.
What's more, Tuchel's replacement will be all too aware that time isn't something you get too much of when managing a Premier League powerhouse, so with results needing to be delivered immediately, Auba needs to hit the ground running.
The only saving grace for the Gabonese is that Mikel Arteta isn't looking for work. Imagine.
GettyWINNER: Romelu Lukaku
Let's face it, if Tuchel was still at Chelsea next summer, there's no way Romelu Lukaku was coming back.
It just wasn't happening. No chance. It all started with Sky Italia interview in December, and it ended with him on a flight to Milan six months later, £100 million down the drain.
It didn't work for Lukaku, it didn't work for Chelsea. Now, though, it's really not beyond the realms to imagine a scenario whereby Lukaku plays for Chelsea again.
Even if he doesn't, you can be absolutely certain zero tears will have been shed upon hearing about Tuchel's demise.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Brendan Rodgers
Why Rodgers, we hear you say?
Well, had the Leicester City boss not been overseeing a shambolic start to the season, he would likely have been among the favourites to replace Tuchel in the Chelsea hotseat.
Indeed, the history is there – Rodgers has managed the Blues' academy and reserve sides in the past – and there was a time not so long ago that the former Liverpool boss was being linked with every top job that came up.
Of course, there are more parts to Leicester's predicament than just Rodgers' coaching, but at this moment in time, he couldn't be further away from landing one of the biggest managerial roles in European football.
