Antonio Conte declines opportunity to express sympathy for Thomas Tuchel

Antonio Conte spurned the opportunity to express sympathy for sacked Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel following Tottenham’s Champions League win over Marseille last night.

Spurs kicked off their European campaign with a hard-fought victory over the dogged Ligue 1 side, who eventually succumbed to two late Richarlison headers after they had held on with 10 men following the 47th minute sending off of Chancel Mbemba.

Conte’s post-match press conference was dominated by questions relating to the Brazilian’s match winning performance but concluded with one journalist asking if was ‘shocked’ by Tuchel’s sudden departure.

The Italian, who suffered a similar fate when his two-year reign at Stamford Bridge was brought to an end by Roman Abramovich just two months after winning the FA Cup back in 2018, shared a frosty relationship with Tuchel, one which came to the boil during a fractious London derby earlier this season.

Both managers were fined, while Tuchel was handed a one-match touchline ban, after they clashed twice during a 2-2 draw which ended with a now iconic handshake.

While the likes of Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp displayed compassion for Tuchel who was dismissed by Todd Boehly on Wednesday morning after a brief 10-minute phone call, Conte sidestepped the issue.

He said: ‘Honestly, I think I don’t want to be disrespectful. I think when another club takes a decision I think it’s right don’t make a comment because you don’t know what happened.’

Tuchel is understood to have fallen out with the new regime at Chelsea following a tumultuous summer during which he was asked to take on additional responsibility and help oversee the seismic overhaul of the club’s playing staff.

Boehly is, meanwhile, hoping to have the German’s successor in place in time for Saturday’s derby against Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Graham Potter was swiftly identified as Chelsea’s No.1 target and after being given permission to speak to the 47-year-old by Brighton, the former Swansea boss is said to have verbally accepted a contract offer.

Talks are set to continue between the two clubs on Thursday with Chelsea understood to be ready to activate Potter’s £16million release clause.

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