BRIDGE TOO FAR

Boenly's big gamble ends in disaster as Chelsea dump boss after seven months

- DARREN LEWIS

IN the end, Chelsea's American owners lost their nerve.

By last night, for a second time this season, the word of Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali counted for nothing.

They had already sacked Thomas Tuchel, just weeks into the season after he had spent the summer helping them to sign players without a director of football.

Their promise to then stand by his replacement, Graham Potter a rookie at the top level even if he did not finish in the top four, was eye-catching enough.

But in the end Chelseas form was so horrendous they were facing a bottom-half finish for the first time since 1995.

Ultimately, the anger from fans, the poor form, the inability to win against top-half opponents and the failure in so many of their games to score goals simply became too much.

Perhaps it was the sight of Tuchel, back in business at Bayern, crushing Dortmund as Chelsea were losing to Aston Villa, that sobered up more than a few at the Bridge intoxicated by Boehly’s deluded vision.

Tuchel had won three trophies in 20 months including the Champions League. Potter, on a five-year contract, had never managed in the competition.