'My father recovered as surely as Chelsea blitzed through CL rounds': fan shares touching story in response to Tuchel's letter

On Sunday, Thomas Tuchel published a short but emotional statement on his sacking. The German said he was 'devastated' to hear the news as he formed a bond with Chelsea.

And so did Chelsea fans. It's difficult to find a head coach in the past few years who has been so popular within the Blues fan base.

Tributes began pouring in after Tuchel's letter and this one has received over four thousand likes on Twitter at the moment of writing this post. It's a great testament to how a football team can affect people's lives.

"One month before that Champions League final, my Dad had a cardiac arrest," CFC Central wrote on Twitter.

"I was in intensive care with him. Ten years before that, I had been in and out of hospitals, taking my Mom to chemos. After two years, I lost her.

"At that time, signing waivers and filling forms and watching the only other thing important to me in the world lie in another hospital bed, long, laboured breaths reminding me of a decade ago, I had never felt so vulnerable, so alone.

"In the weeks after, I saw him recover his strength as surely and surely as we blitzed through the CL rounds. It was like finding two of my worlds gently embrace, finding their feet.

"You were part of the glue that held my world together. Words can never come close, yet, this is a futile attempt to try and put across just how what you did on a football pitch transcended boundaries far above and beyond the lines drawn in the green.

"I will forever be grateful for those moments – sitting quietly in the dark, biting down on my hand so as to not wake my recovering father up, watching us light up Europe.

"Wishing you every happiness and success in the world, Thomas. Thank you."