Chelsea boss Graham Potter has confirmed that coach Anthony Barry is not currently working at the club. The 36-year-old has been in talks over a switch to the German club in the coming months but the two sides have so far been unable to agree a compensation package.
It would be a huge shift in the coaching team at Stamford Bridge if Barry were to leave as he has been highly-rated at the club since he joined under Frank Lampard in 2020. He stayed through the tenures of Thomas Tuchel and Potter too, but it's the former that he looks set for a possible reunion with in Munich.
“My coaching staff wasn’t prepared either, so a big thank you to their families for their flexibility," Tuchel said upon being announced as new Bayern head coach.
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"Arno Michels and Zsolt Low, who have been working with me for over 10 years, will be there. We’re hoping to add Anthony Barry, who is currently at Chelsea. We’re fighting for that and we’re confident because it’s my absolute wish.”
It has caused some disruption in the lead up to the Aston Villa game this weekend, with Barry having apparently been told to stay away as the situation plays out.
Potter was asked about the matter and whether there was a risk of the coach leaking tactics to Bayern, who Chelsea could yet face in this season's Champions League.
"You’re asking the question and answering the question," said Potter.
"It’s club to club, it’s not for me but I am pretty sure it is in the conversation for obvious reasons. He is not with us at the moment and I think that’s best it gets resolved, there’s nothing to report at the moment, it is between the two clubs. I am not involved in it.”
The manager had plenty of positive words for the assistant though, adding: "I have huge respect for Anthony. He is a fantastic coach and person but these things happen in life and football.
"We’ve got really, really good staff here that can fill in, fill the gap if you like, there’s not a direct replacement for anybody but the collective can solve the problem.”
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