Ex-African POTY says Chelsea's sack Of Tuchel after UCL defeat to Dinamo was wicked

Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has described as 'wicked' the decision of the management of Chelsea to sack manager Thomas Tuchel last week Wednesday following the defeat to Dinamo Zagreb on matchday one of the UEFA Champions League.

The Croatian side won 1-0 against an expensive Chelsea side a day thanks to Mislav Orsic's match-winning strike in the 13th minute.

Ikpeba spoke on Supersport's magazine show Monday Night Football, monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com.

"Unfortunately it's a game that they created a lot.

"They could have gotten a point from this game. That's the reality of football sometimes when you don't take your chances.

"Dinamo Zagreb has a very rich history when it comes to club football many, many, years ago in Europe so its good to see them back again."

The 1997 African Footballer of the Year winner then blamed Chelsea new signing Wesley Fofana for the solitary goal conceded by the Blues.

"I think Fofana should have done much better (to prevent the goal), he should have robbed the player of the ball but credit to Dinamo Zagreb and that was (probably) why Tuchel was sacked.

Ikpeba condemned in strong terms the manner of the sack of the former Borrusia Dortmund coach.

"I think it's unfortunate and not needed to sack a manager after just a match in the group stage of the Champions League.

"You (reference to Chelsea) can get to the next stage, with the quality that Chelsea have. I don't know why they had to sack him.

"Look at his win ratio with Chelsea. In 100 games, he won 60 matches, drew 24 and lost 16 with a 60% win ratio.

"This is wicked. It's cruel to sack a manager that just won the Champions League with them 19 months ago.

"This rush of sacking managers, I don't like the trend with Chelsea. It's not nice. I don't like it.

"You can't sack a Manager 5 or 6 games without being patient. How can you sack a manager without being patient so that they can get the club back to winning ways," Ikpeba stressed.

Chelsea's next Premier League game and the supposed first appearance in the dugout for new manager Graham Potter was billed for Sunday evening but the fixture has been postponed by the Premier League due to security and policing worries ahead of the funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II.

Their Champions League clash against Salzburg on Wednesday night will go ahead as planned.  

Izuchukwu Michael

Photo Credit : chelseafc.com
   

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