Graham Potter confirmed set-piece coach Anthony Barry was in talks with Bayern Munich and reuniting with Thomas Tuchel.
The dust has only settled with the Bayern Munich fiasco, which abruptly saw the club sack Julian Nagelsmann. The 35-year-old had his team in second place in the Bundesliga while waiting on Man City in their Champions League quarterfinals.
Bayern appointed Thomas Tuchel as their new manager, while Nagelsmann has links to the Tottenham job. The former Chelsea coach’s track record in recent seasons prompted the Bavarian giants to snap him up before some of the other top clubs make a move. Tuchel was happy to return to Germany and manage the best club in the country.
Tuchel will have time to shape his backroom and bring in his preferred coaches. He is ready to raid former club Chelsea for set-piece coach Anthony Barry and reunite with someone he knows well.
Despite Tuchel’s departure earlier in the season, Barry remained at Chelsea and continued to work under new manager Graham Potter. His overall work has impressed the former Brighton manager, who remains open to keeping him on board.
🗣️ Potter on Anthony Barry. "Anthony is in discussions [with Bayern]. He's not with us at the moment. It's best whilst things get resolved. At the moment there's nothing to report."
Potter hints if Barry goes #CFC would prefer it's after any potential meeting with Bayern in UCL. pic.twitter.com/d8tQk4GunO
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) March 31, 2023
However, with Tuchel pushing for a move, Potter confirmed talks are underway between the two clubs for Barry. The Chelsea boss’ comments appeared on Football365 via Caught Offside, where he confirmed the possible departure but insisted his staff could make up for the loss.
Potter said, “Anthony is in discussions; the clubs are in discussions. He’s away from us for the moment. It’s between the clubs; it’s not something I get involved in.
“I have huge respect for what he’s done here – he’s a fantastic coach and person. And if he does leave, we have a great staff that can fill the gap. The collective can solve the problem.”
While Barry might leave for Bayern, Potter’s own future remains the subject of concern. The Chelsea boss has not performed as expected, but recent results have provided optimism and a bit of confidence. There are names such as Luis Enrique and Nagelsmann linked with the job, but the former Brighton man remains confident.
For now, Chelsea will assess his situation through performances in the final games, including their clashes with Real Madrid in the Champions League. His long-term contract keeps his post secured, but the club could take drastic action if they deem the manager unfit for the future.
