An ex-Chelsea player says he was “shocked” by Chelsea’s decision to fire Thomas Tuchel, adding, “I definitely wouldn’t say it’s the correct decision.”

After the Blues fired Thomas Tuchel as their manager earlier this week, former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips said he was struck speechless.

Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League opener saw Chelsea lose 1-0 to Dinamo Zagreb, their third defeat overall this season (September 6). The morning following the Zagreb defeat, which was also his 100th game in charge, Todd Boehly and other co-owners gave Tuchel his marching instructions.

In the two 50-game periods that followed his arrival in January 2021, Chelsea’s performances and results significantly declined.

In his first 50 games in command, the Blues won 32 of them while giving up just 24 goals and scoring 81. The Blues won fewer games (28) and gave up more goals (53) than they did in the first 50 games under the German coach, while scoring more goals (87) in those games.

Wright-Phillips discussed the firing of Tuchel in an interview with Fair Betting Sites, stating it was strange given the money spent on the team’s development.

“It’s clearly not the right choice, in my opinion. I would say that I was more stunned by it than anything else. In my opinion, if you return to the transfer window and give the manager an additional £250,000,000 to spend on transfers, that kind of communicates to the rest of the world—especially the club’s supporters—that they are supporting the manager in the long run.”

Therefore, he continued, “I think it would have stunned and upset everyone when it happened after seven games, but at the same time, there might be something going on that we don’t know about, that there might have been friction between them which caused it.”

Graham Potter, a former manager of Brighton & Hove Albion, has been named the new Chelsea manager.

Wright-Phillips went on to compliment the 47-year-old tactician’s background for his work at Brighton.

“I’ll be really honest with you and say that I think he makes a great manager. With the resources he had and the players he had, he was able to make those plays back in the Premier League, particularly at Brighton. If those top players adopt his style of play and footballing philosophy, it could be both a terrifying and exciting development for the Premier League.”

After the passing away of Queen Elizabeth this weekend, Chelsea will play RB Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, September 14, at Stamford Bridge.