Thomas Tuchel got rid of Chelsea player just weeks after he starred in European Championship final

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Chelsea Football Club will never forget the year 2021 after winning the Champions League for a second time in their history.

Thanks to Kai Havertz, the Blues were able to beat Premier League rivals Manchester City 1-0 in the final and get their hands on the trophy.

That year was particularly special for two Chelsea stars, whose success did not stop at the Champions League.

However, Thomas Tuchel was not too keen on one of them and allowed him to join another club for the 2021/22 season.

• READ MORE: Troy Deeney claims Thomas Tuchel ‘doesn’t fancy’ Chelsea player after England omission

Thomas Tuchel got rid of Emerson after Euro 2020 success

Emerson and Jorginho both started for Italy against England in the Euro 2020 final, which was held in 2021, and helped their country to become European champions.

Emerson, who was overlooked by Tuchel during the 2020/21 campaign, arguably showed his worth that day.

Nevertheless, Tuchel preferred Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso for the left wing-back position, and Emerson’s contribution to Italy’s success at the Euros did not change anything.

The defender was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge and joined Lyon on loan before eventually signing for Chelsea’s London rivals West Ham United.

Today, Marc Cucurella is Chelsea’s first-choice left-back, and the Spaniard may be the best of the lot.

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara recently praised Cucurella, hailing him as one of the best defenders in the world.

What Emerson said about his initial Chelsea exit in 2021

While Tuchel and the club clearly had no complaints about Emerson leaving the club, the Italy international himself also fancied an exit so that he could get more game time.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport in 2021 (via Football Italia), the 31-year-old said: “After the Euros, I wanted to get regular playing time and feel important. I couldn’t play consistently at Chelsea and [Roberto] Mancini told me that, at my level, I should have stayed on the pitch as much as possible.”

Emerson is now at another French club, Marseille, and has not played for Italy since 2023.

If Emerson retires from international football today, he will hang up his international boots as a happy man after Italy’s famous night at Wembley.