Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly was upset with former manager Thomas Tuchel praising Marina Granovskaia in public.

BILD says the German's praise of former managing director Granovskaia was a factor in his deteriorating relationship with Boehly.

Tuchel was thought to be in favour of Granovskaia remaining at the club post-Roman Abramovich and had a good relationship with the woman in charge of Chelsea's transfer business.

Boehly "didn't like that someone contradicted him" and was said to have been annoyed with Tuchel's backing of the now-departed director.

Another factor in the fallout was Tuchel rejecting the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United. Boehly is believed to have wanted to bring the Portuguese star to the club to boost marketing, particularly in the US, but the German was concerned the impact the 37-year-old would have on the dressing room.