Justin to come to their Aid
SALT OF EARTH
■ changed with the team and how to play Lionel Messi as a ‘false nine’, how to create spaces, playing with a back three and a back four.
“Just two coaches talking normal stuff. We used what was on the table and sometimes it’s easier to explain a formation when you use something.”
Tuchel, who managed Mainz and Borussia Dortmund in Germany, has faced Guardiola five times as a manager and never won.
He said: “It’s not the ultimate test but it’s the highest level. Bayern Munich with Hansi Flick and City with Pep are the benchmark.
“When Pep was at Bayern, almost every game was a lesson for me.
“Later I had the opportunity to play against him. It was not always a pleasure.
“We have to accept there is a gap. But we truly believe we can close the gap for one game. We are absolutely confident we have a chance to win this game.”
■ (above)
JUSTIN COCHRANE is the favourite to replace Aidy Boothroyd as England Under-21 boss.
A last-gasp goal for Croatia in the recent European Championship meant England went out at the group stage.
It signalled a parting of the ways after seven years with Boothroyd, whose contract expires in the summer.
With the pandemic hitting the FA hard in the pocket, there is unlikely to be a big-money replacement.
And a determination to keep the post full-time would further rule out some of the higher-profile names being mentioned, such as Frank Lampard and Eddie Howe.
With St George’s Park now established as the hub of English football coaching, an internal appointment would be popular.
And Cochrane, 39, has impressed with his work at Under-17 level.
England boss Gareth Southgate said last year: “Justin Cochrane is somebody who I think, within our group of national coaches, is going to be a top coach.”