NO DOUBTIN TO KNOCK
THOMAS TUCHEL has been following in the mighty managerial footsteps of Jurgen Klopp for most of his own impressive career. Tuchel was in charge of Mainz and Borussia Dortmund after Klopp and, like the Anfield supremo, is considered one of Germany’s finest modern coaches.
The new Chelsea chief now joins Klopp on English shores and accepts that matching his compatriot’s feats over here – let alone eclipsing them – is a massive task. Not just on the pitch, where Klopp led the Reds to their first title in 30 years, but also off it, where he has proved such an engaging character.
Yet Tuchel, sacked by Paris Saint-germain on Christmas Eve after taking them to the Champions League final last summer, is determined to make life tougher for Klopp as soon as possible.
He said: “It’s hard to be as successful but we’ll try. Jurgen’s one of the very best and one of the most fascinating personalities out there.
“I’m not sure I should set that goal because he’s
Jurgen.
“People love him, fans love him, his team loves him and he has the results.
“Let’s try to make things a bit more complicated for him.
“We start now to close the gap and take away a bit of his points and his reputation.”
That approach towards Chelsea’s
Merseyside rivals is, of course, only one step towards Tuchel’s ultimate goal – the one outlined to him by the club’s powerful director Marina Granovskaia when he succeeded Frank Lampard on Tuesday.
Silverware is all that counts at
Chelsea. Not any old silverware, either. It’s the Premier League and the Champions League. End of...
On the Blues’ clear demands,tuchel confirmed: “She told me very clearly – if you sign for Chelsea, you need to win trophies.
“This club is about trophies and competing, and the two most difficult competitions you compete in are the Premier League and Champions League.
“But there’s no secret. If I play with Dortmund, PSG or Chelsea in the Champions League, I don’t play to reach the quarter-final.
“I play a quarter-final to reach the semi-final; I play a semi-final to reach a final; and when I am in the final I play to win.we can admit it – on this level nobody steps into any competition to be second. Nobody.
“It’s easier to talk and set things clear than to talk around it and not be sure what everybody expects.”
Predecessors Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte were all fired despite being successful but Tuchel, 47, aims to avoid their fate. Ahead of today’s home clash with Burnley, he said: “You’re right – there were even managers who won and got sacked. One is sitting right here in front of you.
“In the end everyone is looking for a nice guy, a hard guy, a trophywinning guy, a goodlooking guy, a funny guy.that does not exist!
“At some point, I hope I’m the guy who can be the characteristics for an era, then my wishes have come true.”