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"I Can't See The New Chelsea Boss Winning The Big Prizes At Stamford Bridge" Claimed Micah Richards

"I Can't See The New Chelsea Boss Winning The Big Prizes At Stamford Bridge" Claimed Micah Richards

Micah Richards didn't think Thomas Tuchel was the right man to replace Frank Lampard and it's not taken long for him to regret those words.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Micah Richards' thoughts on Thomas Tuchel from January have come back to bite him, after the former Manchester City defender claimed the Chelsea manager wouldn't win the big prizes.

Tuchel was appointed at the end of January and has gone on to help Chelsea into a top four finish in the Premier League, before winning the Champions League on Saturday night.

It was quite the turnaround from the Blues, who were ninth in the table when the former PSG boss was named as Frank Lampard's replacement.

Lampard's departure did cause many to claim the former Derby County manager should have been given more time to turn things around and Richards was certainly in that camp.

Not only did he believe the Englishman should have been given more time, he also wasn't sold on Tuchel's appointment.

"There doesn't appear to be a plan after Frank Lampard's sacking... I can't see the new Chelsea boss winning the big prizes at Stamford Bridge," the Sky Sports pundit wrote in his Daily Mail column.

"Chelsea have appointed Tuchel because they want to win the Premier League and Champions League again. I struggle to see that happening with him.

"What have Chelsea seen in Tuchel that convinces them he will outwit Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp over the course of a 38-game season?"

Tuchel with one of the big prizes. Image: PA Images
Tuchel with one of the big prizes. Image: PA Images

Richards wasn't happy with the former Borussia Dortmund boss' first team selection, leaving Mason Mount out of the draw with Wolves, adding, "First impressions are very important in football and the one Tuchel made on Wednesday with his team selection against Wolves could not be called positive.

"...I'm absolutely not writing Tuchel off, but something about his appointment doesn't feel right."

In his defence, the 32-year-old retired former footballer did admit earlier last week that he'd got things wrong when it came to Tuchel.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live, Richards ate humble pie. "When [Thomas] Tuchel came in, I didn't see it," the Birmingham born pundit said.

"I didn't think he'd be able to transform this team in the way he has, so soon, I didn't see it.

"He's made me eat my words. This Chelsea team now are frightening.

"On the counter-attack now, they have the best counter-attack."

Kai Havertz certainly hit City on the break as Chelsea scored the only goal of the game. Image: PA Images
Kai Havertz certainly hit City on the break as Chelsea scored the only goal of the game. Image: PA Images

Tuchel has now led his team to three wins over Pep Guardiola's City this season, in the league FA Cup and Champions League.

Ahead of last Saturday's meeting, Pep seemed to think he had a pretty good grasp of the Blues' tactics, as he brilliantly described them, but it didn't help his team in Porto.

The former Barcelona manager was accused to changing his tactics in the final.

Featured Image Credit: PA/Sky Sports

Topics: Manchester City, Frank Lampard, Micah Richards, Chelsea, Football, Thomas Tuchel, Premier League, Champions League