Thomas Tuchel has reacted to his Chelsea sacking with a statement on Twitter.
The German manager was relieved of his duties at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday following on from a 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the opening Champions League group stage fixture the day before.
With £271 million spent on a host of new additions the summer, the Blues have had a disappointing start to the season and new owner Todd Boehly made the decision to dismiss Tuchel and appoint Graham Potter as his replacement on a five-year deal.
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Four days on from the news and Tuchel has put out a message on his social media channels, saying he "is devastated" over no longer being charge but was "honoured" to manage the club and guide them to a Champions League triumph last year.
Tuchel wrote: "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.
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"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.
"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 honoured 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."
Tuchel took the reins at Chelsea in January 2021, making an early return to management after being given the boot by Paris Saint-Germain.
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He guided the club to their second Champions League triumph when they beat Manchester City in an all-English final in Porto months later and followed it up with Super Cup and Club World Cup successes.
He also demonstrated incredible leadership skills during a challenging period when Chelsea were under restrictions by the UK government.
His relationship with the new owners appeared to sour over transfer policy and Tuchel is now in line to receive £13 million in compensation.
Chelsea have also paid a record £22 million fee to Brighton to secure the services of highly-rated Potter and his coaching team.
Topics: Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel, Premier League
Josh Lawless