Chelsea head physio ruthlessly axed over 'short zoom call' after 17 years

Chelsea's upheaval under owner Todd Boehly has continued with the sacking of long-serving head physio Thierry Laurent.

Laurent had been with the club for 17 years, joining early on in Roman Abramovich's tenure as owner, and was also physio for the French national side when they won the World Cup in 1998. However, the 57-year-old has reportedly been dismissed over zoom after more than a decade and a half of service.

It is just the latest departure of the Boehly era, with the current owner still yet to bring up six months at the helm. While manager Thomas Tuchel was one of the highest-profile sacking s, others have left of their own volition including Petr Cech and Marina Granovskaia.

According to The Mail, Laurent had a "short zoom call" with Boehly on Tuesday, in which he was told his services would no longer be required. His dismissal follows the departure of medical director Dr Pablo Biosca, who had also been at Stamford Bridge for more than a decade.

The news comes hot on the heels of the sacking of Damian Willoughby, the commercial director only hired by Chelsea a matter of weeks ago. A Chelsea statement about the sacking made reference to "inappropriate messages" sent by Willoughby before his appointment.

"The Club's owners are working tirelessly to set and achieve the highest standards both on and off the pitch, and are determined to establish and nurture a culture of transparency, accountability, inclusivity, diversity and opportunity," the statement read. "The Club is committed to creating an environment which embodies these values."

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Former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain manager Tuchel was also sacked after a brief call with Boehly. The German was backed in the transfer market to the tune of £270m but got his marching orders after losing three of his first seven games this season.

The manager was reportedly called into a conference call with Boehly, in which he pleaded not to be sacked. However, his attempts to earn a second chance fell on deaf ears.

"This is one of the most difficult statements I have ever had to write - and it is one which I hoped I would not need to do for many years," Tuchel said in his first statement after his dismissal. "I am devastated that my time at Chelsea has come to an end.

"This is a club where I felt at home, both professionally and personally. Thank you so much to all the staff, the players and the supporters for making me feel very welcome from the start.

"The pride and joy I felt at helping the team to win the Champions League and the Club World Cup will stay with me forever. I am honoured to have been a part of this club's history and the memories of the last 19 months will always have a special place in my heart."

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