Kieron Dyer has claimed that some Chelsea players he has spoken to do not rate Graham Potter and feel axed boss Thomas Tuchel was on a different level.
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Barely a year on from winning the UEFA Champions League, the German coach was sacked by Chelsea’s new owners in September after a third defeat of the season against Dinamo Zagreb.
While results were underwhelming, a breakdown in the relationship between Tuchel and the club’s hierarchy is reported to have been a major factor in the decision, with the new owners also keen to bring in their own manager and recruitment team.
Now former England international Dyer has said Tuchel’s dismissal was a mistake and teased that multiple Chelsea stars feel the same way, with Potter yet to impress the squad.
Asked who will miss out on top four in an interview with True Geordie, Dyer said: ‘I worry about Chelsea, I really do. We’ve talked about Eddie [Howe] and then you have that elite, world-class player and do they kind of [work together].
‘I’m so happy that Potter got his chance, so happy because he deserved it, but then I’m thinking: you do not sack Tuchel for Graham Potter. That’s just my opinion.
‘I’ve spoken to people who have had Tuchel as a coach and they’ve had Potter as a coach… obviously I’m not going to name names.
‘But they’ve had [both managers] and you cannot compare the two. Knowledge of the game, tactics, the way they are.
‘I also know people who have had Tuchel and then they’ve had other top, top coaches and they go, “Trust me, Tuchel is f***ing incredible.”’
Asked if he was given an explanation from his source at the club as to why Chelsea sacked Tuchel, Dyer added: ‘Do you think the Americans have come in, they’ve started splashing the cash, £60million for full-backs from f***ing Brighton, and he’s [confused]. You just don’t know.
‘You’ve got to remember, this is the same Chelsea that absolutely pummelled Tottenham [in a 2-2 draw earlier this season] – I know you can say Tottenham are getting pummelled by most teams.
‘They just said Tuchel was on a different planet. And my thing with Potter is, I think Chelsea having problems is because he’s always changing the team, it’s like he’s trying to keep all these superstars happy. It’s impossible to name the XI.
‘I can name Newcastle’s team every week, Manchester City’s for the big games. But Chelsea I haven’t got a clue. He’s playing Sterling at wing-back, one minute he’s playing Aubameyang and then he’s on the bench.
‘Listen, I was so happy he got his chance but I always worried that when you’ve got those world-class players and they’re not really buying into your beliefs do they just say, “Yeah, good one.”’
