Tuchel strict? You must be joking
12.30PM
WELCOME to the world of fun with Thomas Tuchel.
The Chelsea manager may look stern on the touchline, berating his players.
But underneath, the German likes a laugh – and he believes the lighter atmosphere is helping his side.
Mind you,Tuchel was not happy his team lost the staff football match this week, and, he
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joked, perhaps there is just a bit too much frivolity going around.
Tuchel, though, revealed he will not be imposing fines for turning up late for training like predecessor Frank Lampard.
As for yelling at his players on the touchline, the former Borussia Dortmund coach reckons he has calmed down. He was far worse 10 years ago.
Whatever it does, it is working as Tuchel’s team go into today’s clash at Leeds unbeaten in the 11 matches since he took over in January.
He said: “If we don’t laugh, who can laugh? We should be happy.
“But I have lost my authority a bit. I lost the staff match 4-3. Maybe we have to change things, not laugh too much.”
Under Lampard, players were fined up to £20,000 if they were late for training.Tuchel is more relaxed.
He said: “I’m more into values than setting rules and fines. If a player arrives at 10.01am, I am not the police. I won’t be hanging around the window checking.”
IT IS the saddest of divorces. ChrisWilder was Sheffield United to a great extent and the breakdown of his relationship with the club has delivered a hammer blow to the Blades.
Wilder could not have prevented relegation had he stayed but he would have been the perfect man to have brought them straight back up.
Sean Dyche did so at Burnley and Daniel Farke, right, is on course to do the same at Norwich.
The job he did last season in steering them to ninth place on a shoestring after being promoted through the leagues was nothing short of astonishing. What funds Wilder had this season may not have been spent particularly well – Rhian Brewster has not delivered – but in terms of their wage bill, Sheffield United are where they should be. In the relegation zone.
Wilder will be able to spend more time at Headingley enjoying the cricket. But his loss is a criminal waste for the Blades and one they could pay a heavy price for next season.