POSITIVE TUCH MENDS BLUES
NEIL SQUIRES
THOMAS TUCHEL arrived at Chelsea with a reputation for being a difficult personality.
But after a flying start to his Stamford Bridge reign, the German boss has shown the players he is anything but.
In fact, Tuchel’s facial expressions are easy to read and tell the players all they need to know, according to Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy.
Tuchel has quickly gained a reputation at the Bridge for being full of smiles, encouragement and positivity on the training pitch.
The Blues have played eight games, won six and drawn two, while scoring 10 goals and conceding just two, since he took charge at the end of January. They have stormed up the Premier League table and back into contention for the top four, which was beginning to look a big ask in the final days of Frank Lampard’s reign. But a different voice also inspired Chelsea to their best result to date – the 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, which makes them favourites to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2014.
Mendy (above) said: “The coach gives confidence to all the players. We know what he wants so, when we are on the pitch, we have to show why he has chosen us.
“It’s very positive for all the players because he gives us a lot of confidence, and we need to improve and to play great football when we are on the pitch.
“He is very expressive and shows when he likes something. When you did well on the pitch, and every day at training and in the game, he pushes you. He stays positive, but also shows his determination, and that is good for me and the team.”
RORY McILROY has warned golf to prepare itself for life after Tiger Woods following his horror crash.
Woods, 45, successfully came through lengthy surgery to repair a shattered right leg and ankle at a California hospital yesterday. But McIlroy believes the car accident