Chelsea players became ‘fearful’ of Thomas Tuchel’s touchline rants during his time at Stamford Bridge, according to reports.
The German was sacked earlier this season by new owner Todd Boehly after they lost 1-0 to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.
Reports claim at the time that he was dismissed because of disagreements with Boehly and not due to the Blues’ mixed start to the new campaign.
It was understood that the new ownership gave him more responsibility in the transfer market but Tuchel was much more interested in sticking to the coaching side of his job.
There were claims that ‘his attitude and demeanour raised serious doubts’ that Tuchel was the man to lead Chelsea forward with the German ‘perhaps better suited to the more detached management style of the past regime’.
Chelsea have excelled so far under his replacement, Graham Potter, with the former Brighton boss guiding them to two wins out of two in the Premier League and two wins and a draw in the Champions League.
And the Daily Telegraph insists that the Chelsea players are enjoying the relaxed feeling around the club with no more ‘fear factor’ from Tuchel’s time in charge.
The report said:
‘Players no longer have to be fearful of being screamed at from the touchline, as they often were when Thomas Tuchel was in charge, with Potter more likely to call them over to the touchline for a chat during a break in play if he has spotted something that needs communicating.’
On the vibe around the training ground, the Daily Telegraph continued:
‘The fear factor has already been replaced with a feel-good factor and, under Potter, there is genuine hope that Chelsea might just become every bit as exciting as a Bond thriller.’
It’s a matter of time before Mason Mount signs a new contract at Stamford Bridge with the England international set to become the club’s highest earner.
Mount and Kepa Arrizabalaga are the only two players to have started all of Potter’s first five matches in charge and the former is finding comfort in the Englishman’s approach.
The Daily Telegraph added:
‘Potter held one-on-one conversations with all of his players following his appointment and Mount is understood to have found his heart-to-heart with his new coach particularly instructive and helpful.’
And former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole thinks Mount is one of the most underrated players in the Premier League.
Cole said on BT Sport: “Another manager has come into Chelsea and another manager has deemed him vitally important to his team.
“He picks up pockets [of space], can play off the left, off the right, he is finding passes. Unless you stand and study Mason Mount, you don’t appreciate what he does.”
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