Tuchel aura was already wearing thin after a sorry start to season

THOMAS TUCHEL looked baffled as he faced up to this embarrassing defeat in Zagreb — and this morning he paid the ultimate price.

- Nizaar Kinsella

A Champions League opener against the weakest team in Group E provided Chelsea with a chance to change the narrative after their poor start to the season.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was handed his Chelsea debut wearing a protective face mask and the scene was set for him to be the superhero to spark their season into life.

But the striker looked rusty and Tuchel was left admitting he felt like he was watching the “wrong movie” as Chelsea endured a horror show in Croatia.

“I didn’t see it coming,” said Tuchel — and he would not have seen what was about to unfold, either.

Last night might have come as a surprise to Tuchel but a worrying pattern had been emerging and there were signs his aura was beginning to wear off.