Tuchel To Sign New Contract After leading Chelsea To Glory
Thomas Tuchel is close to signing a new contract after leading Chelsea to European glory with a classy victory over Manchester City in the Champions League final at the Estádio do Dragao on Saturday. Chelsea plan to reward Tuchel by handing him an extension to 2023 with the option of a further year after a fine goal from Kai Havertz dashed City’s hopes of winning the Champions League for the first time. The Premier League champions struggled to respond after Havertz opened the scoring just before half-time and it ended up as a night of regrets for Pep Guardiola, who was left to rue his lineup and tactics.
Tuchel won the strategic battle with Guardiola and the German’s contract, which runs out next summer, will be extended. The Chelsea manager, who spoke to the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich, on the pitch after full-time, was given an initial 18-month deal when he replaced Frank Lampard at the Stamford Bridge in January and he wants to commit his future to the club. “I am not even 100% sure maybe I have already a new contract now,” Tuchel said. “My manager said something about it. Let’s check this first. I spoke to the owner right now on the pitch. It was the best moment for the first meeting. It can only get worse! We will speak tomorrow. We will speak later. I will stay hungry for the next title. My desire is for more victories ands to grow as a coach. It would be nice to meet him a bit closer. We are in contact. Now it’s nice to meet him.”
Tuchel, who was fired as Paris Saint-Germain’s manager last December, has made a stunning impact since joining Chelsea. Yet the former Borussia Dortmund manager is hungry for more success after helping Chelsea become European champions for the second time in their history. “It’s about the next one,” Tuchel said. “It is the time to celebrate for a few days and to let it sink in. Nobody wants to rest. I want the next one and I want the next success and the next title. I want to be a part of it and I demand to be a part of it. Make no mistake. “It’s a huge experience and a huge success. We all will profit from th at experience. We we will use it to stay hungry and to grow and evolve. It;’s a huge step to arrive in the final and an even bigger one to fight your way through. Manchester City was a strong opponent. We knew it was a top level performance. We needed a strong bond today to win this match.”
Guardiola, who has not won this competition since 2011, was criticised after leaving out Fernandinho in midfield and naming Raheem Sterling in an attack-minded team. Ilkay Gündogan struggled in defensive midfield. “I had quality players,” City’s manager said. Gündogan played many ways this position. He had the speed to find the quality players between the lines. This was the decision.” Did Guardiola have any regrets? “I don’t know. The decisions I made, the players did everything. The decision was to try to win the game. I think the game was exceptional.”