Todd Boehly’s massive Chelsea challenge to satisfy Thomas Tuchel amid Marina Granovskaia exit

“As you know, I was so happy with the structure that the club provides and the mentality Chelsea provides. That was, for me, always the foundation to strongly believe and genuinely believe ‘OK, we will push and keep on pushing’,” Thomas Tuchel said in April, when three groups were still vying to takeover Chelsea.

The German coach has made his position clear with regard to the relationship he has had with Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech, and it’s been a strong one. From summer transfer conversations to supporting the German coach in the aftermath of Romelu Lukaku’s infamous interview, Tuchel has clearly felt comfortable in his relationship with his superiors.

Granovskaia’s role in the post-Roman Abramovich era has always been uncertain. The Chelsea director operated on behalf of the former Blues owner and was first a PA for Abramovich at Sibneft before taking a role with the Blues and rising to prominence to eventually be named Best Club Director in European football at the Golden Boy Awards in December 2021. Her role in helping negotiate sponsorship deals and transfers has been prominent to say the least.

READ MORE: How Marina Granovskaia Chelsea departure will impact Jules Kounde and Ousmane Dembele transfers

Change was always going to come, and now three weeks into Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership the cogs really seem to be moving at Stamford Bridge. Long-time chairman Bruce Buck, another closely aligned with Abramovich’s time at the club, departs his role at the end of June and it appears Granovskaia is set to be the next high profile name leaving.

Speaking when the club was first put up for sale, Tuchel said: “This will not be my choice. This is part of it. I can only tell you until now it was an excellent relationship that worked so well for me and also hopefully the two others to take these decisions and have updates in a small circle of communication and responsibility. Hopefully it will stay like this but I have no influence in it, no information if it will.”

That change now appears to be on its way with reports that Boehly is already leading negotiations for Romelu Lukaku’s return to Inter Milan, and will be responsible along with Tuchel to fulfil any gap that Granovskaia leaves. If the Russian’s departure comes during the transfer window that will be a stern first test for the newly-born partnership between Boehly and Tuchel. Any future replacement for Granovskaia will also have a steep task to live up to. Atletico Madrid’s Andrea Berta has been tipped for the role previously.

Blues boss Tuchel will have known this is always a possibility, but from the very beginning it has been about the mentality inside of the building. Both the attitude the hierarch presents and the action in the transfer window will quickly tell Tuchel whether the fit is as good as he has experienced in his first 18 months at the health.

He said: “The key thing for me is that we keep the mentality in the building at least and in the club, the competitive mentality that was installed over more than a decade. It’s a bit concerning and, hopefully, we can find our way through it.”

This is one of Chelsea’s most important summers in recent menu, with a squad rebuild required in addition to a new-era of ownership looking to kickstart. Actions will soon speak louder than any promises set out.