TheNewsGuru

Tag: Tuchel

  • 2021 UEFA Champions League is anyone’s competition now – Tuchel

    2021 UEFA Champions League is anyone’s competition now – Tuchel

    Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel says the 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League is now “anyone’s competition” to win.

    After leading the London side to the semi-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory over FC Porto, Tuchel is keeping his fingers crossed.

    FC Porto won the second leg 1-0 on Tuesday but it was not enough to overturn Chelsea’s 2-0 first-leg victory.

    Chelsea will play either Liverpool or Real Madrid in the semi-finals, while Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will meet either Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund.

    As Chelsea prepare for their eighth Champions League semi-final – the most of any English club – Tuchel told reporters: “We’re in the competition and in the semi-finals, and it is anyone’s competition.

    “In the semi-finals, you need players (to be) fit, momentum, luck in the games.”

    The German added: “It is a very big achievement. You (can) see when Chelsea were last in the semi-finals.

    “We are not used to being there. Once you are there, you play for the final. This is clear.”

    Chelsea will be appearing in their first Champions League semi-finals since 2013/2014 with a younger brigade of players compared to their upcoming opponents.

    “When you look on the scoresheet last week, you saw two players [Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell] who scored their first goals in the competition,” Tuchel said.

    “When you look at Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, [Karim] Benzema or [Mohamed] Salah score, it is their 50th or 100th goal or something. We arrived with a very young team.

    “We want a young team to turn it around. What a young team can do is run, fight and hang in there. It is an adventure for them. It is a big step to be here.”

  • I wouldn’t fight Rudiger, Azpilicueta or Kovacic – Tuchel

    Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has named three of his players that he would never want to fight.

    The German was asked about the mentality and tenacity of his team as they prepare for a Champions League quarter final second leg against FC Porto.

    The Blues are 2-0 up from the first leg, and will be hoping to seal a spot in the semi finals.

    “Honestly you don’t want to be in a fight with Antonio Rudiger, Kova (Mateo Kovacic) and Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta),” he told reporters.

    “For me you don’t want to be in a fight with them, because they are ready to fight and it’s their nature to show it on the pitch and protect the interests of our team.

    “They are there we can rely on them nobody has to do stuff which is against their nature you can totally rely on them.

    “For me when I was a player at a lower level when you have big matches and feel the tension you look around at who is next to you and feel comfortable, see who you can rely on.

    ‘I feel our guys are very comfortable when they look around and see who they can rely on. No one is out there alone, we will help each other, we will help from the bench.

    “We will push hard for the best outcome. We have minimum of 90 minutes to fight for and achieve a big goal.”

  • I’m here to win titles with Chelsea – Tuchel

    I’m here to win titles with Chelsea – Tuchel

    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel says he joined the West London club to win trophies and is confident the club has the ‘culture’ required to fulfil his ambition.

    Asked at a press conference if the Champions League is his side’s clearest path to a trophy this season, Tuchel replied: “Maybe when you are in the final.

    “We are in the second leg of the quarter-final of the Champions League, you will not find any team who does not have the goal to reach the semi-final.

    “We are in the semi-final of the FA Cup and have the chance to arrive in the final, if we arrive in the final then we have the chance to win.

    “There is nothing to hide. This is a club that has culture, a structure, to win titles and win games consecutively. Chelsea is the club that has the culture and the history and mentality to do so.

    “I am here to win titles, I am here to win games and as a result, win titles. This is what I demand of myself so why should we now say anything different? If you want to win in five years or three years, I don’t know what that is.

    “Now is the time but honestly we can talk for hours and hours but tomorrow is the game to play and there is no tougher match than the next game, there is no tougher obstacle than the one in front of you and we should not get lost in dreams, hopes and speeches or whatever.

    “We are here to perform in the second leg of the quarter-final, this is what we do and then hopefully after tomorrow we can talk about a semi-final.”

  • Barca star reveals Tuchel as favourite coach

    Barca star reveals Tuchel as favourite coach

    Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele has declared Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel the best coach he’s worked with.

    The pair were together at Borussia Dortmund.

    Dembele told BeinSport: “Thomas Tuchel really convinced me. He’s my favorite trainer too. With Thomas Tuchel I played a little more on the right side at the start of the season, and then he refocused me in the axis at the No10 and sometimes even in the middle of three.

    “He was telling me to stay a little in the middle of the field, to take the espresso, and the ball will come and there you go. Would I have stayed in Dortmund if Thomas Tuchel had not left? It would have been hard to leave Dortmund, Thomas Tuchel would have held me back.”

  • Chelsea striker not playing as we hoped – Tuchel

    Chelsea striker not playing as we hoped – Tuchel

    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel admits Tammy Abraham is struggling to impress him.

    The 23-year-old is the Blues’ highest goalscorer this season with 12 goals in 30 appearances but has battled to make Chelsea’s matchday squad since returning from an ankle injury.

    “I cannot make a decision on the personal goals of players,” Tuchel told reporters on Friday. “Kepa [Arrizabalaga] has the goal to play for Spain but this can’t influence my decisions.

    “I’ve got to do what I believe is best for Chelsea. Tammy has had a rough time. He started twice or three times and substituted for tactical reasons at half-time.

    “He’s not had the impact we wish and demand from him. He then got injured, lost the connection and possibility to play for his place the squad.

    “Now suddenly we’re in the decisive part of the season, where it’s not so easy to bring injured players into the shape. We’ve only got three changes and a big handicap.

    “It’s up to Tammy to do everything possible. We have 22 players on the pitch and it’s very hard to select 18 for Premier League matches.

    “In the offensive position it’s possible to have a huge impact in small minutes. We demand a lot of Tammy, he demands a lot of himself.”

  • Tuchel meets with Porto defender after Chelsea win

    Tuchel meets with Porto defender after Chelsea win

    Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel sought out Porto defender Malang Sarr after Wednesday’s Champions League win.

    Sarr is on-loan at Porto this season from the Blues.

    The Frenchman was signed on a free transfer last summer from Nice and initially started life well at Porto.

    But in recent months, the 22-year-old has been resigned to a spot on the bench while there has been a change of management at Stamford Bridge with Tuchel replacing Frank Lampard in January.

    At full-time, there were hand slaps and hugs from the likes of Ben Chilwell, Tammy Abraham and N’Golo Kante but the one he seemed the most keen to meet was Tuchel.

    Having never met, there was a hand shake and a short conversation in a fleeting moment, reports the Daily Express.

    Sarr looks set to return to Stamford Bridge in the summer and will be hoping to break into the first-team under the German manager.

  • Tuchel, Kovacic deny celebrating Chelsea draw with Porto

    Tuchel, Kovacic deny celebrating Chelsea draw with Porto

    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has denied claims from Porto that they celebrated being drawn with them for the Champions League quarterfinals.

    The accusation came as a surprise to Tuchel.

    “In the Champions League, we wouldn’t celebrate any draw. We respect every team,” said the German.

    “We come from a competition in which we are able to lose against the team 19th in the table 5-2 (West Bromwich). So we know how humbly we have to approach every game.

    “In the quarter-finals of the Champions League, if you wish for an opponent you will lose yourself in crazy mind games.”

    Porto defender Pepe has made the claim this week.

    Blues midfielder Mateo Kovacic also said: “It’s strange to hear that from Pepe because I played with him for three years. I don’t know what he means or if he actually said it. But of course not, we didn’t celebrate.

    “Me? I didn’t celebrate because when I played before with Real Madrid I know that in these stages there are no lucky opponents or bad opponents.”

  • Why Alonso had my instant trust in Chelsea – Tuchel

    Why Alonso had my instant trust in Chelsea – Tuchel

    Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has explained why he was happy to wipe the slate clean for Marcos Alonso upon his appointment.

    Tuchel has admitted that their relationship stretches back way before this year, which made it easier for him to ignore the noise surrounding the 30-year-old when he arrived at the club.

    “It’s not easy to fully ignore it but I tried to,” explained Tuchel. “Maybe he was simply lucky because I knew him since he played in Fiorentina and I was in contact with him a little so I followed his career a bit.

    “Marcos is an intelligent and calm guy, full of self-confidence but he’s well aware of what he can do and what he cannot do. We decided in the first game to play a back three and to have the wing-back positions, which suits his profile perfectly. He was experienced and I had pictures in my mind of what he could give to the team in this position.

    “He showed his quality and from then on every day is a pleasure to have him because he’s a top professional guy. I’m very happy that he took his chance. He never lost faith in himself and when we arrived he was physically ready to play at the highest level so it’s a credit to him and now he has to keep on going.”

  • I’ve stopped Werner from finishing practice – Tuchel

    I’ve stopped Werner from finishing practice – Tuchel

    Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has offered fresh goalscoring advice to Timo Werner.

    Tuchel has compared Timo Werner’s efforts to recapture his finest scoring form to a romantic pursuit after the striker came under fire for a horror miss on international duty with Germany in the week.

    “If a woman doesn’t want to go out with you, you cannot force her. Step back and maybe she will call you,” Tuchel said at his Friday press conference.

    “It was a bad pass from Ilkay Gundogan is how I see it! I’m only joking. He missed that chance and everybody is passionate to talk about it which is a bit annoying.

    “It’s easy at the moment to point the finger at Timo, which I can’t understand. I am happy he is back here.

    “To look at it honestly, he is in a moment where he lacks confidence and things aren’t too easy. The goals are not working out as usual but he works out for us.

    “He still scores for us, still assists for us, still wins penalties. If this is the most critical point of his career you can say it’s still pretty impressive so far.

    “Timo has scored since he was five years old and he never stopped. So he can trust his brain and body, it will come back. That’s easier said than done.

    “Yesterday I sent him in from training because he wanted to do extra finishing with us. But I sent him in because it will come. The goals will come.

    “Of course, he needs to do something and the best thing to do is to work hard. Work hard against the ball, make runs, don’t hesitate, be fearless, don’t overthink it.

    “That’s easy for me to say but it’s the challenge right now. Timo will start tomorrow and there we go.”

  • Werner reacts to Tuchel ‘screaming at me on the pitch’

    Werner reacts to Tuchel ‘screaming at me on the pitch’

    Chelsea striker Timo Werner has no problem with the aggressive management of Thomas Tuchel.

    Tuchel is a lively character on the touchline and can often be seen bellowing orders to his players.

    And Werner says his manager’s loud personality suits him perfectly.

    “It’s no problem for me when he screams at us on the pitch,” the 25-year-old told Match of the Day magazine.

    “I need a manager who screams at me. It gives me more power.

    “I had the same at Leipzig – I’ve always had managers who have shouted rom the sidelines and pushed me on.”

    He added: “I understand every word he says and I think he understand every word when I talk to him, which makes it very easy for me.

    “In German, I’m very good – German is a good language for me.”

    Werner admits his debut season at Chelsea has been a difficult one, but stresses that he remains determined to help the team.

    “When you don’t score as a striker, it’s always tough,” he continued.

    “I want to help the team and I want to score, because that’s my nature – I’m a striker. Winning games is the most important thing, but after that, it’s scoring.”