THOMAS TUCHEL

The Premier League is getting ready to pause for the World Cup and some unlikely storylines are in place for the second half of the season.

For someone with little experience in soccer, American businessman Todd Boehly sure has made some big calls in his first 100 days as the face of Chelsea’s new ownership. His first major decision really raised eyebrows: Boehly, Chelsea announced early in the offseason, would not just be the club’s new chairman but also its interim sporting director in charge of recruitment. There followed the kind of summer spending spree never seen before in English soccer, an outlay of nearly $300 million on new players. Talk about making a whirlwind entrance to soccer. The arrival of a new sporting director is imminent.

Having little soccer experience hasn't stopped American businessman Todd Boehly making some big calls in his first 100 days as the face of Chelsea’s new ownership.

LONDON — (AP) — Graham Potter was hired as Chelsea manager on Thursday after choosing to leave fellow Premier League team Brighton. Potter replaces Thomas Tuchel, who was fired on Wednesday after an apparent breakdown in his relationship with Chelsea’s new ownership — fronted by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly. His appointment might be regarded as a gamble by Chelsea because of Potter’s lack experience coaching at soccer’s highest level. Potter has won only one trophy as a coach, the Swedish Cup in 2017 during his time in charge of Ostersund from 2011-18. Potter is widely admired as one of the country’s best tacticians and has a brave, entertaining style of play that has won plaudits if not trophies.

Graham Potter has been hired as Chelsea manager after choosing to leave fellow Premier League team Brighton.

Chelsea’s new American owners took a gamble with the first managerial appointment of their tenure, hiring Graham Potter from Premier League rival Brighton on Thursday despite his lack of experience coaching at soccer’s highest level. The 47-year-old Potter agreed to a five-year deal as the replacement for Thomas Tuchel, who was fired on Wednesday after an apparent breakdown in his relationship with Chelsea’s recently installed ownership team fronted by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly. While Tuchel won the Champions League with Chelsea last year and previously ran a locker room of soccer superstars — such as Kylian Mbappé and Neymar — at Paris Saint-Germain, Potter has a more obscure coaching past and has won only one trophy, the Swedish Cup in 2017.

In the eyes of U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, Chelsea’s decision to fire manager Thomas Tuchel could benefit American star Christian Pulisic. Pulisic was used as second-half substitute in Chelsea’s first five Premier League matches before starting in Saturday’s 2-1 win over West Ham.

The decision to fire Tuchel, who was manager for 20 months, came a day after Chelsea surprisingly lost to Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 in its first group match of the Champions League. Chelsea has also lost two of its first six games — to Leeds and Southampton — in an underwhelming start to the Premier League that has seen the team's new signings fail to gel. After all, the 49-year-old German guided Chelsea to the Champions League title less than six months after taking over as manager in January 2021, as the replacement for Frank Lampard. Aubameyang cited playing under Tuchel before — at Borussia Dortmund — as a benefit of the move and was handed a debut against Dinamo. British media has already linked Graham Potter, currently manager of in-form Premier League club Brighton, and Mauricio Pochettino, with the vacancy.

Geoff Diehl, a former US state representative endorsed by former President Donald Trump, won the Republican nomination for Massachusetts governor on Tuesday. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey won the Democratic primary. (Sept. 7)

LONDON — (AP) — Thomas Tuchel was fired by Chelsea on Wednesday only one month into the season. The decision by Chelsea's new ownership came a day after the team lost to Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 in its first group match in the Champions League. Chelsea has lost two of its first six games in the Premier League. Chelsea was the highest-spending team in Europe during the transfer window with an outlay of nearly $300 million. Tuchel was in charge for a year and a half, winning the Champions League in his first season.

Thomas Tuchel has been fired by Chelsea only one month into the season.

Chelsea's new American owners are proving to be just as ruthless as the man they replaced. Thomas Tuchel was fired by the Premier League club on Wednesday, only one month into the season and just days after Chelsea's recently installed ownership — fronted by Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly — concluded a Europe-high spending spree of nearly $300 million in the transfer window. Chelsea was renowned for regularly changing managers in the 19-year tenure of Roman Abramovich, the Russian oligarch who had to sell the London club after being sanctioned by the British government for what it called his enabling of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “brutal and barbaric invasion” of Ukraine.

Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland took their high-flying scoring acts into Europe as the Champions League returned, while last season’s standout star Karim Benzema limped off with an injury after less than 30 minutes.

LONDON — (AP) — It might be time for Liverpool to start worrying about its slow start to the English Premier League. “It’s not the start we wanted,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said. Everton's Jordan Pickford and Liverpool's Alisson pulled off stellar saves while Liverpool also had three shots hit the woodwork. The decision bailed out Chelsea after an underwhelming performance that once again highlighted the team's lack of firepower up front. “We had chances to score a second when the game was in our hands but we didn’t,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.

It might be time for Liverpool to start worrying about its slow start to the English Premier League.

Cristiano Ronaldo has not yet returned to preseason training with Manchester United because of what has been publicly described as “personal reasons.”.

Arsenal remained in fourth place after Gabriel's header secured a 2-1 win at West Ham in the Premier League.

Britain Soccer Premeir League Chelsea's Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring the only goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge in London, Sunday, April 24, 2022. The goal was just the second Premier League winner by an American in the 90th minute or later, the first since Fulham's Carlos Bocanegra against Tottenham on Jan. 31, 2006. It spared the blushes of Jorginho, who struck a tame penalty at West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianksi in the 87th minute after his trademark hop-and-skip run-up. West Ham rested key players like Declan Rice and Michail Antonio ahead of its appearance in the Europa League semifinals on Thursday. ___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

U.S. forward Christian Pulisic came off the bench to score in the 90th minute and earn Chelsea a 1-0 win over West Ham that cemented third place in the Premier League.

APTOPIX Britain Soccer FA Cup Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, April 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Ian Walton) (Ian Walton)LONDON — (AP) — Complete the sale of Chelsea inside four weeks and the new ownership will have an FA Cup final to attend. Who will be representing the club in the royal box at Wembley Stadium on May 14 is still to be determined. Goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount ensured the eight-time FA Cup winners will be back at Wembley on May 14 to face Liverpool which beat them at the national stadium on penalties in the League Cup final in February. Chelsea lost the 2021 FA Cup final to Leicester.

Chelsea will play Liverpool in the FA Cup final after beating Crystal Palace 2-0.

Complete the sale of Chelsea inside four weeks and the new ownership will have an FA Cup final against Liverpool to attend. Who will be representing the club in the royal box at Wembley Stadium on May 14 is still to be determined. As the three remaining bidders wait to discover if they are chosen to buy out sanctioned Russian owner Roman Abramovich, the west London club beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in the semifinals of world soccer's oldest competition on Sunday.

The bid for Chelsea launched by Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca has added Canadian sports tycoon Larry Tanenbaum ahead of Thursday’s expected deadline for improved offers for the Premier League club.

The Premier League title race really is back on and it’s all because of Harry Kane.

Christian Pulisic scored the final goal in a 3-0 victory by the United States over Honduras in a World Cup qualifier after being benched to start the game.

Hakim Ziyech’s curling, dipping strike and Thiago Silva's header gave Chelsea a 2-0 win over Tottenham to end a four-match winless run in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola's biggest challenge now might be convincing his Manchester City players the English Premier League title race is not over.

Christian Pulisic completed Chelsea’s fightback against Liverpool for a 2-2 draw in the Premier League.

(AP Photo/Ian Walton) (Ian Walton)Manchester City's grip on its Premier League title hasn't been this strong all season. It has been an almost perfect 24 hours for City, which saw Liverpool — another rival for the title — surprisingly lose 1-0 at injury-hit Leicester on Tuesday. "There are 54 points still to play for.”Yet City is even winning when not playing its best. CHELSEA DENIEDIt's three draws in four league matches for Chelsea, whose strong early-season form has disappeared. Tuchel sounded like he has given up on winning the title, given the number of his players out through injury and illness.

Manchester City’s grip on its Premier League title hasn’t been this strong all season.

Britain Soccer Premier League Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores his side's fourth goal, during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle and Manchester City at St. James' Park, Newcastle, England, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) (Owen Humphreys)LONDON — (AP) — Chelsea complained about having to play with a coronavirus-depleted squad in drawing at Wolverhampton. And Manchester City just strolled further in front at the top of the Premier League. CITY RAMPANTAn eighth straight league win for City was started by defender Ciaran Clark allowing Ruben Dias to head in the opener at Newcastle before Joao Cancelo struck powerfully. It was City's 34th league victory in 2021, surpassing the previous calendar year record in England set by Liverpool in 1982.

Chelsea complained about having to play with a coronavirus-depleted squad in drawing 0-0 at Wolverhampton.

Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, said "it's a little alarmist" to call the Omicron variant the Frankenstein of all COVID variants. Norah O'Donnell sits down with Jha to discuss more.

German coach Ralf Rangnick has been hired as Manchester United manager until the end of the season.

A person with knowledge of the situation says Manchester United is in talks with Ralf Rangnick about becoming interim manager.

Chelsea and Manchester City didn’t field a recognized striker between them yet still combined for 11 goals in ominous displays by the two title contenders in the Premier League.

Manchester City reasserted its Premier League title credentials on a day all of its big rivals dropped points.

Noble's first touch of the ball was taking the penalty, striking it low toward the corner of the net. Even more galling for Moyes than the penalty miss, the scorer of the winner in the 89th minute was Jesse Lingard. No United manager since Ferguson has lifted the Premier League trophy. “We’ve got to keep our feet grounded, dig out the points like we did today," United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said. “It was perhaps a bit more defensive, but I wanted to give the sign I was not happy with the energy,” Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said.

Cristiano Ronaldo began the comeback as Manchester United won 2-1 at West Ham thanks to Mark Noble having a penalty saved in stoppage time straight after being brought off the bench.

APTOPIX Portugal Soccer Champions League Final Chelsea's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal, Saturday, May 29, 2021. Champions League glory once again for Chelsea, nine years after its first title and just 123 days after manager Thomas Tuchel’s season-changing arrival at the club. Germany forward Kai Havertz's 42nd-minute goal earned Chelsea a surprisingly comfortable 1-0 win in Porto in the Champions League’s third all-English final on Saturday. Guardiola will surely regret tinkering with a settled team that had swept City to its first Champions League final and to the verge of another trophy treble, after winning the Premier League and the English League Cup. Christian Pulisic, who came on as a second-half substitute to become the first American player to feature in a Champions League final, posed with the trophy in a USA sweatshirt.

APTOPIX Portugal Soccer Champions League Final Chelsea's Kai Havertz celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League final soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Dragao Stadium in Porto, Portugal, Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Jose Coelho/Pool via AP) (Jose Coelho)PORTO, Portugal — (AP) — Chelsea won the Champions League for the second time Saturday, beating Manchester City 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz’s first-half goal as Pep Guardiola’s overthinking proved costly again in the all-English final. The innovative Spanish coach, seeking to win the Champions League for the third time and first since 2011, has been guilty in recent years of overthinking his tactics in the big games and he might have done it again here. Starting without a striker was expected -- Guardiola has preferred that in the Champions League knockout matches -- but going without a specialist holding midfielder in Fernandinho or Rodri was a major surprise and seemed to destabilize City. From one, substitute Christian Pulisic — the first American player to feature in a Champions League final — ran onto Havertz’s pass but slipped a shot just wide.

PORTO, Portugal — (AP) — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola selected a team without either of his holding midfielders, Rodri or Fernandinho, for the Champions League final against Chelsea on Saturday. Ilkay Gundogan, City's top scorer this season, looked set to drop into a deeper position in midfield in a surprise move, with Raheem Sterling picked as an extra attacking player. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel picked Kai Havertz in his three-man attack ahead of U.S. international Christian Pulisic. Center midfielder N'Golo Kante has shaken off his latest hamstring injury to start. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Chelsea won the Champions League for the second time by beating Manchester City 1-0 thanks to Kai Havertz’s first-half goal as Pep Guardiola’s overthinking proved costly again in the all-English final.

Chelsea and Manchester City will contest an all-English Champions League final in Porto.

Being a back-up was all Kelechi Iheanacho ever knew.

Chelsea has come from behind to beat Manchester City 2-1 and prevent City from clinching a third English Premier League title in four seasons and dethroning Liverpool.

Chelsea even made record 13-time European Cup champion Real Madrid look ordinary as goals from Timo Werner and Mason Mount sealed a 2-0 victory that ousted Madrid 3-1 on aggregate. “I am very grateful and thankful to have this opportunity,” said Tuchel, who'd been dismissed by Paris Saint-Germain in December despite leading the French club to last year's Champions League final. Unlike last season's final — when Tuchel's PSG lost to Bayern Munich — fans are set to be allowed in. Chelsea supporters have yet to see Tuchel managing their team in the flesh due to England's ongoing coronavirus restrictions. “I think we tried, but the truth is today Chelsea were superior and we have to congratulate them," Zidane said.

Britain Soccer Champions League Chelsea's Timo Werner, third from right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League semifinal 2nd leg soccer match between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge in London, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (Alastair Grant)LONDON — (AP) — Chelsea will end a turbulent season by playing in the Champions League final after making the competition's most successful team look ordinary. Timo Werner and Mason Mount scored to secure a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the second of their semifinal on Wednesday to oust the record 13-time European champions 3-1 on aggregate. Getting a shot at adding to its 2012 Champions League title will vindicate Chelsea's decision in January to fire club great Frank Lampard and hire Thomas Tuchel, the manager who led Paris Saint-Germain to last season's final. ___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Chelsea ensured a turbulent season will end in a Champions League final by making the competition’s most successful team look ordinary.

Liverpool will like nothing more than to officially hand over its title as English Premier League champion to Manchester City on Sunday.

Manchester City's quadruple dream has been extinguished by Chelsea after losing 1-0 in the semifinals of the FA Cup.

Liverpool's 3-0 victory at Arsenal has provided a reminder of the quality that had the champions still leading the Premier League in December before imploding.

Losing 3-1 at Leicester in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Sunday realistically leaves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with only the Europa League to produce his first trophy as United manager. The other semifinal will pit Man City against Chelsea, which beat Sheffield United 2-0 in Sunday's other quarterfinal. “But the ambition is there to win titles and be competitive.”The FA Cup semifinals next month take place a week before the League Cup final between City and Tottenham. “But in the second half we played some of the best I have seen us play. Tottenham doubled its lead midway through the second half when Kane clinically scored from the penalty spot, having been fouled by Matty Cash.

(Adam Davy/Pool via AP)LONDON – Manchester City only needs to win five of its remaining eight games to secure the Premier League trophy. Sergio Aguero then fired the ball into the corner of the goal for his first Premier League goal in 14 months. "We want to still fight for the position in Europe.”TUCHEL UNBEATENChelsea extended its unbeaten start under Thomas Tuchel to 10 Premier League games with the draw at Leeds. ZAHA STANCEWilfried Zaha became the first Premier League player not to take a knee before his Crystal Palace team beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0. Zaha had already indicated that he thought taking a knee has lost meaning after being brought in by the Premier League in June as an anti-racism message when football resumed.

Chelsea's Christian Pulisic, right, is challenged by Everton's Allan during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton at the Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Monday, March 8, 2021. Yes, so this is my job, and his job is to be ready — to be ready like everybody else. Pulisic’s lone Premier League goal this season came on Dec. 5 against Leeds in a 3-1 victory. Pulisic has missed one game to injury and another for family reasons under Tuchel and his only recent start came on Feb. 11 in an FA Cup match against Barnsley. “When you sign and play for Chelsea, it is part of the job description as a player to be impatient and patient at the same time,” Tuchel said.

(Matthew Childs/Pool via AP)LONDON – Gareth Bale turned back time for Tottenham, while Chelsea and Manchester United seemed happy just to play out time. Chelsea kept its unbeaten record under manager Thomas Tuchel in a 0-0 draw with Man United as both teams appeared reluctant to risk losing one point in the hope of getting three. However, Mourinho warned that Bale would still have to rest for some upcoming games to manage his form and fitness. He had scored six goals and assisted three more in his team's previous 10 league games. The draw left Scott Parker's team unbeaten in five league games, with only one goal conceded during that time, but still 18th and three points adrift of safety.

Everton's Richarlison, second left celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. The worst form since 1923 for Liverpool after a fourth straight home loss. Even worse for Liverpool was losing yet another center back option as Jordan Henderson was forced off injured in the first half. Pickford dived at the feet of striker Mohamed Salah as Liverpool turned up the pressure without really laying siege to the Everton goal. While Southampton ended a six-game losing run in the league, the point stopped Chelsea recording a sixth straight win in all competitions.

(Tim Keeton/Pool via AP)LONDON – Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has urged winger Christian Pulisic to “stay positive” amid limited playing time and now a tight calf that leaves the oft-injured American questionable for Saturday’s visit to Southampton. Tuchel on Friday sought to quell speculation about Pulisic's long-term future at Stamford Bridge. Pulisic's only start since Tuchel took over late last month was in an FA Cup match last week. The German manager said it's a "clear yes” when asked if he wants the 22-year-old Pulisic to stay at Chelsea. He was withdrawn from training Thursday with calf tightness and is “a big question mark” for the Southampton match, Tuchel said.

Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson stands on the pitch during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. Leicester moved three points ahead of Liverpool in third after drawing 0-0 with Wolverhampton. AdOn a freezing day across England, Klopp could only figure that the icy conditions were to blame for a blundering performance by goalkeeper Alisson Becker that proved so costly. It was only 35 days earlier that a 3-1 win at Chelsea took City to fifth, four points behind then-leader Liverpool with a game in hand. Jorginho’s 58th-minute penalty clinched the win over the last-place team after Timo Werner was brought down by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Thomas Tuchel is confirmed as the new Chelsea soccer team manager, Tuesday Jan. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, FILE)LONDON – Chelsea hired Thomas Tuchel as manager on Tuesday on an 18-month contract to replace the fired Frank Lampard. Tuchel, a 47-year-old German, is back in work a month after losing his job at Paris Saint-Germain following a power struggle with the club. “It is never easy to change head coach in the middle of the season but we are very happy to secure one of Europe’s best coaches in Thomas Tuchel,” Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said. “We all have the greatest respect for Frank Lampard’s work and the legacy he created at Chelsea,” Tuchel said.

SAO PAULO – Neymar will come to South America for World Cup qualifying matches despite a groin injury he picked up in a Champions League match for Paris Saint-Germain. Brazil coach Tite called Flamengo striker Pedro for the matches against Venezuela and Uruguay on Nov. 13 and 17, without removing Neymar from the squad. “We will follow his development closely.”PSG coach Thomas Tuchel said last week it would be “impossible” for Neymar to play for Brazil as he recovered from the injury. Brazil has already lost four players for the two clashes, including three due to injury — midfielders Philippe Coutinho and Fabinho, and defender Rodrigo Caio. Brazil and Argentina lead the South American qualifying group with two wins from two matches.

Some talking points ahead of the second round of games in the Champions League:NO RONALDO VS. MESSI? The highly anticipated matchup of Cristiano Ronaldo against Lionel Messi likely won’t happen because Ronaldo has the coronavirus. Alvaro Morata replaced Ronaldo against Dynamo Kyiv last week and scored twice in a 2-0 win. Eden Hazard was added to the Madrid squad and could make his season debut after nursing a muscle injury. Diego Simeone's side was thrashed 4-0 by defending champion Bayern Munich and next hosts Salzburg in Group A on Tuesday.

The money in that contract is daunting: a reported 100 million euros ($118 million) annual salary package and release clause demanding a 700 million euros ($827 million) transfer fee. What coach says no to Messi? said Tuchel, whose side lost the Champions League final to Bayern Munich on Sunday. GERMANYBayern Munich appears in little need of reinforcement after winning a Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble. The Bavarian powerhouse has grown on and off the pitch thanks to smart financial management, with revenue of 750 million euros ($886 million) in the most recent annual accounts and profit after tax of 52 million euros ($61.5 million). When World Cup-winning France defender Lucas Hernndez arrived last year for a club-record 80 million euros ($95 million) from Atltico Madrid, it was an exception.

(Franck Fife/Pool Photo via AP)LISBON Emmanuel Macron was quick to appropriate France's unexpected Champions League prowess for political purposes. It has never happened before: two French teams in the Champions League semifinals after two nights of incredible results in Lisbon. You have to go back even longer to find a Champions League semifinals that didn't feature Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. With Pep Guardiola twice a Champions League winner as Barcelona coach outwitted by Lyon's Rudi Garcia, the last of the managerial heavyweights exited this mini-tournament. Diego Simeone, who has lost two Champions League finals with Atletico Madrid, was dumped out by Leipzig on Wednesday.

Icardi joined PSG on a season's loan and had impressed with 20 goals in 31 games when the league season was stopped because of the coronavirus pandemic. PSG took up its option to buy the 27-year-old Icardi and gave him a contract until June 2024. Cavani was linked with a move to Atltico Madrid during the January transfer window but PSG reportedly turned down an offer of 15 million euros from the Spanish club. No financial details were given by PSG about how much Icardi cost, but Italian media reported the transfer as costing 50 million euros ($55.5 million) with additional bonuses. Many observers were circumspect when he joined PSG on loan at the end of the summer transfer window.