Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has questioned Chelsea's decision to part company with Thomas Tuchel and says he did not expect Todd Boehly to be so ruthless.
Chelsea announced on Wednesday, a day after their slow start to the season continued with a 1-0 European loss to Dinamo Zagreb, that Tuchel had been relieved of his duties.
Tuchel departs Stamford Bridge having won three trophies, including just the club's second ever Champions League, during his 20 months at the helm.
American owner Boehly has placed Tuchel's coaching staff in temporary charge until a replacement is found.
Chelsea hired and fired managers on a regular basis during ex-owner Roman Abramovich's successful tenure, but Carragher expected things to be different under a new regime.
"It's a shock because I just thought the new regime at Chelsea would be different to Roman Abramovich," Carragher told Sky Sports News.
"If Abramovich was still in charge, you'd fear for Tuchel because of what happened in the past with Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti – lots of great managers.
"But I did feel as if it might have been a different type of regime, so it's a huge shock. It hasn't been a great start, we get that.
"But Chelsea felt like a team who needed the transfer window to end, get the squad they wanted and give a top-quality manager a chance over the next few weeks or months.
"We're talking six games into a season. He bought Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who made his debut last night and Wesley Fofana's played two games.
"The idea that this team's been put together with a lot of money spent – I understand that – pressure comes with that and Thomas Tuchel will understand that.
"But he was almost like a director of football a lot through the summer as well, he was heavily involved in bringing the players in.
"So, he should have been given more time certainly, even just the next three games which takes them up to the international break, I don't know what the rush was right now."
According to widespread reports, Chelsea have been given permission by Brighton and Hove Albion to speak with head coach Graham Potter.
Out-of-work bosses Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane are also said to be under consideration by Boehly, who only took over ownership of the club at the end of May.
Potter has been widely lauded for his work at Brighton and also with former sides Swansea City and Ostersund, but Carragher has warned the Englishman about taking the job.
"It's a very ruthless club and I'm not sure he is the right fit," Carragher said.
"Maybe Chelsea are saying they want to do things differently in the future in terms of having a coach in charge rather than a manager.
"But if I was Graham Potter, I would find that very hard to believe that they're going to do things differently.
"They've just got rid of a manager six games into the season. Of course, it's a huge step up in his managerial career and Chelsea are still one of the top clubs.
"They are still world champions right now, but you fear for Graham Potter that he'll be in the same boat as every other Chelsea manager has for the last 10 years.
"Unless he gets results instantly they'll be getting themselves another new manager in 12 months."
Xavi commits U-turn and elects to stay at Barcelona
Barcelona head coach Xavi will continue in his role next season after an unexpected reversal of his decision to leave at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, according to widespread reports.
The former Barcelona midfielder announced in January that he would walk away from the job at the end of the current season, even though his contract was due to run until the end of the following term.
Xavi acknowledged the Barcelona role had taken its toll but reportedly changed his plans after a meeting with Blaugrana president Joan Laporta on Wednesday.
The 44-year-old was initially appointed as Barca coach in 2021 before leading the LaLiga giants to the top-flight title in the 2022-23 campaign.
Xavi's initial announcement of his intentions to depart Barcelona came after a tough period following defeats to Girona, Real Madrid and Athletic Club before revealing the news in the aftermath of a 5-3 loss to Villarreal.
The Blaugrana turned their fortunes around after that decision became public, though, going 13 games unbeaten across all competitions.
Unsurprisingly, that run encouraged Laporta, vice president Rafa Yuste and sporting director Deco to plead with Xavi to continue until the end of his agreed contract.
Though that undefeated streak ended with a 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain that dumped Barcelona out of the Champions League quarter-finals, Xavi has now agreed to stay in his role.
The league title is almost out of reach this term, however, as Real Madrid moved 11 points clear of second-placed Barca with Sunday's 3-2 Clasico victory.
Premier League title race gets Man City's blood pumping - Guardiola
Pep Guardiola relishes the decisiveness of the Premier League run-in, as Manchester City prepare for another huge game in the title race.
The Citizens breezed past Luton Town 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium in their last outing in the competition, but were not in Premier League action at the weekend.
While they booked a place in the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win against Chelsea on Saturday, Arsenal went back to the summit by recording wins over Wolves and the Blues before Liverpool also leapfrogged Guardiola’s team with a 3-1 victory at Fulham on Sunday.
City, who will be without the injured Erling Haaland, face Brighton on Thursday, in what is one of their two games in hand on the Gunners.
Asked how he feels going into the final few games of the season with so much on the line, Guardiola said: “Every game is adrenalin. Every game is important. But yes it’s decisive. Every mistake or every step back makes it more difficult. It is what it is.
“We have been here in the last years fortunately many times so that’s why we know what we are playing for.”
Guardiola was also questioned about the criticism levelled at match officials after Nottingham Forest’s strongly worded statement following their 2-0 defeat at Everton on Sunday.
"Absolutely disagree. In every league in the world, this kind of thing will happen more and more, but of course, I never had doubts about that,” said Guardiola.
"They make a mistake, they feel bad. It's normal. When they do the job, they want to do it well. The game is so difficult, it is fast and quick, decisions have to be made in one instant. It's not easy.”
Haaland out of Brighton clash, confirms Man City boss Guardiola
Manchester City will be without Erling Haaland when they take on Brighton, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.
Haaland missed Saturday's FA Cup semi-final victory over Chelsea with a muscular injury he sustained against Real Madrid last week.
And the issue will also see the striker, who has scored 20 Premier League goals this season, miss out against the Seagulls on Thursday.
"Erling is not ready for tomorrow," said Guardiola, who added that City will be able to call on Phil Foden and John Stones.
"It's not a big issue but he's not available."
Haaland has scored, on average, every 109 minutes in the league this season.
However, the Norwegian has actually underperformed his expected goals (xG) of 23.7.
He has also chipped in with five assists, giving him an overall goal contributions tally of 25. Haaland has created 28 goalscoring chances for team-mates across the campaign.
After Arsenal's 5-0 thrashing of Chelsea on Tuesday, reigning Premier League champions Manchester City sit four points off the summit in third place, albeit with two games in hand.
Second-place Liverpool will aim to move level on points with the Gunners by beating Merseyside rivals Everton on Wednesday.
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