Telegraph readers on the future of Chelsea: 'Tuchel will last 18 months. The club is clueless and classless'
As Thomas Tuchel looks set to become the 13th manager to take over the reins under Roman Abramovich, questions remain over whether the German can survive in one of football’s most ruthless jobs.
For Frank Lampard, there were no emotions spared, despite his status as a club legend, leaving him on a longlist of coaches that were shown the exit door at Stamford Bridge.
But are there wider problems at Chelsea and will Abramovich’s merciless approach ever breed long-term, stable success? Read on for the best discussion points from our readers and share your own view in the comments section at the bottom of this article.
'Tuchel is a good coach, but he's bolshie'
@Christian Blundell:
"Tuchel has caused problems at every club he’s been at. He's a good coach, but he's bolshie.
"I give him 18 months. Then it’ll be time for another."
'Chelsea doesn't seem an attractive outfit to work for'
@Paul Miller:
"I think everyone knows how Chelsea works for managers and players. It doesn't seem an attractive outfit to work for other than the wages. So no one can be surprised Lampard has gone.
"It sounds like he was a stopgap, but then again he spent £220 million on players and didn't deliver, or they didn't."
'An interim appointment until the season ends would be more sensible'
@Sidney Westward:
"I’m not sure Lampard ever knew what his best line-up was. It is sad he didn’t get a bit longer to prove himself but the indications were not good.
"However, I really cannot see the sense in bringing in Tuchel, who will be quarantined and then have a period getting used to the Premier League and the enormous squad of players at his disposal.
"An interim appointment until the season ends that the players could relate to (Eddie Howe perhaps, or someone with even greater proven worth and Premier League experience) would seem more sensible.
"All I can say is best of luck to Tuchel."
'This Chelsea hierarchy is faceless, speechless, clueless and classless'
@Philip Andrew:
"There are claims that Abramovich fears that Chelsea are not gaining ground on Liverpool or Man City. Perhaps we should point out that both Klopp and Guardiola are not forever having to look over their shoulder.
"Both also exercise complete control over player incomings and outgoings, including loanees. They are trusted in a way no Chelsea manager under Abramovich and Granovskaia, past and future, could ever hope for.
"This Chelsea hierarchy is faceless, speechless, clueless and classless.
"Glib words maybe, but an apt summing-up of a cabal who believe they always know best, never accept blame, never speak publicly about aims and objectives, and treat true supporters as if they are chattel."
'I prefer the current era to that of Osgood and Co'
@Raymond Forster:
"There's been a lot of criticism aimed at the owner, but as a fan of the Blues since 1970, from then until the Abramovich era got going in 2004 we won: 0 league titles, 3 FA Cups, 1 League Cup and 2 Uefa Cup Winners' Cups.
"From 2005: 16 trophies, including 5 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 3 League Cups, 2 Uefa [Europa] Leagues and 1 Champions League.
"I'd say I prefer the current era to that of Osgood and Co, stylish though they were."
'We need to start recruiting better'
@Nic Brunetti:
"It's a risky sacking considering the heart of the problem is that these players are not the superstars we're used to, regardless of the money spent on the new six.
"Hazard was the last giant of Chelsea, and since Conte's second season the club has underinvested in the team. Conte saw this first hand and never let it go. Hazard then papered over the cracks for a further season under Sarri.
"We need to start recruiting better, and going for Premiership players who are already used to the pace of the Premier League is an obvious starting point. Even a journeyman with grit like Burnley's Ashley Barnes would've been better than the likes of an unproven and toothless Kai Havertz."
'There is a clear pattern of short-termism at Chelsea'
@Fred Bloggs:
"There is a clear pattern of short-termism at Chelsea. We at Villa had a terrible season last year but we allowed manager Dean Smith to acclimatise. We are now eighth with two games in hand. Just ahead of Chelsea."
'No one can have any illusions about how Abramovich operates'
@Lil Bil:
"It doesn't really bode well for Tuchel, does it? If he can't succeed at PSG, in a one-team league, then what chance has he got in the Premiership? No one can have any illusions about how Abramovich operates and if a club hero like Lampard can be treated so shabbily then nothing will ever change.
"Let's be honest, every manager at the club, apart from Lampard, is a mercenary – moving on to another well paid job once Abramovich has had his pound of flesh. Chelsea supporters got the money, got the success but look what they are left with."
'It will be interesting to see how Tuchel copes with English football culture'
@David Robinson:
"Notwithstanding the internal and hierarchical demands of being Chelsea coach, it will be interesting to see how Tuchel copes with English football culture within the Premier League.
"I suspect he'll adapt quickly and do well."
'What interim coach will do what Lampard can't?'
@Peter Guy:
"If Tuchel's appointment is true it is just one more example that, despite all the talk of Chelsea wanting to change the footballing culture, at root Abramovich and the club remain as short-termist and as ready to hit the panic button as ever.
"What interim coach out there will do what Lampard can’t? And if they can, shouldn’t they be given the job? CFC is, as ever, an omnishambles."
'I don't know why Tuchel is an obvious choice'
@Russell Hawkins:
"I don't know why Tuchel is considered an obvious choice. Winning the title in France where it would be more difficult to fail is no achievement and he has failed in the primary target he was set when being appointed, namely winning the Champions' League.
"I hope Chelsea appoint him."
'Lampard will be back, I'm sure'
@Matt Heller:
"This will be a blow to Lampard, though perhaps not altogether an unexpected one.
"He may be regretting leaving Derby now after making some good progress with them in his first managerial job. Of course, Chelsea would have always been his ultimate aim, but it came too soon.
"His appointment was a big sentimental leap of faith for Abramovich. Fair play to him. I don't get why he's getting so much criticism.
"I'm not convinced about Tuchel being any improvement. Lampard will be back, I'm sure, and good luck to him."
'Chelsea are welcome to Tuchel'
@Russell Hawkins:
"Chelsea's success is down to the money injected by their owner. It's the same at Man City. As for Tuchel, he's won the league in a country where it was virtually impossible for him to fail.
"What he has not achieved, despite being given a shed load of cash, is winning the Champions' League, which was what he was hired primarily to do. Chelsea are welcome to him."
