Tuchel will stay longer at Chelsea if he meets Champions League target

REVEALED: Thomas Tuchel will only get a new Chelsea contract if he keeps them in the Champions League for the next two seasons – as club move towards incentivised deals after shelling out £110M to sacked bosses

  • Thomas Tuchel was initially reluctant to join Chelsea on such a short contract 
  • However, his mind was made up when he was told he could stay for longer 
  • Tuchel will need to maintain the club’s Champions League standing to do that 
  • The terms are designed to stop Chelsea shelling out on big compensation costs 

Thomas Tuchel will be offered a contract extension by Chelsea at the end of his 18-month deal if the new head coach hits a series of performance targets.

Sportsmail can reveal that the contract Tuchel signed last week is heavily incentivised and contains clauses triggering an option for him to stay if the German keeps Chelsea in the Champions League for the next two seasons.

Tuchel admitted before Sunday’s 2-0 win over Burnley that he was initially unhappy at only being offered an 18-month deal — but the chance to extend the deal if he is successful alleviated his concerns.

Thomas Tuchel must get Chelsea into the Champions League this term and next to keep his job

Tuchel agreed to take the job after being told it might not be available in the summer

During exploratory talks with the club before they dismissed Frank Lampard last month, the 47-year-old was initially lukewarm about joining Chelsea mid-season, but changed his mind after being told that they could not guarantee the job would be available at the end of the campaign. 

Chelsea also approached Ralf Rangnick and Julian Nagelsmann towards the end of Lampard’s reign, although Tuchel was always their preferred candidate.

‘At first it was a concern, I was a little like, ‘Oh, why 18 months?’ revealed Tuchel.

‘But after only one minute I thought, “What does it change?” What does it change if they give me four and a half years? They could sack me anyway.

RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann was approached following Frank Lampard’s sacking

The experienced Ralf Rangnick was also in the frame for the role before Tuchel was appointed

‘If they are not happy with me, they will sack me anyway. And if they gave me four and a half years they would put in a clause that when they sack me, they’ll pay me.’

Chelsea’s move towards heavily incentivised, performance-related contracts reflects the club’s desire to minimise future compensation payments after spending more than £110million in pay-offs to sacked managers during the Roman Abramovich era.

The club’s decision to sack Lampard last week will not significantly add to that bill, because his three-year deal contained a break clause after two years.

Therefore, they will only have to continue paying the 42-year-old until the end of this season.

Chelsea have shelled out £110m to sacked managers in the Roman Abramovich era




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