Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I LOVE FOOTBALL TUCH TOO MUCH
Tuchel says he could carry on into his 70s like Roy Hodgson because he adores the game
THOMAS TUCHEL is ready to emulate Roy Hodgson and carry on managing until he is 74 because he loves football too much to retire.
Tuchel admits that it has been the hardest season of his managerial career but has not lost any of his passion despite Chelsea’s problems and the uncertainty over the club’s ownership.
The Blues boss, 48, comes face to face with veteran Watford manager Hodgson (above) tomorrow, having met the ex-england chief during a coaches’ conference a few years back.
Hodgson has retired once and came back, and has hinted he might not call it a day this time either. But while most managers laugh off the idea of going on as long as Hodgson, Tuchel says he can picture himself doing the same.
The German said: “It can happen to me, too, but let’s see! I’m pretty sure I will still be in love with football in 26 years’ time.
“Who knows? How old is he? 74? He does not look that old and I am happy to meet him again. We met once, before we played against each other here in London, to discuss performance.
“I was coach of Dortmund at the time and it was very impressive because he was super-friendly and a gentleman, and very open in sharing his point-of-view and opinions.
“It is nice to be on the sideline with him and, if he is in the last game, he deserves full, full credit for his career. It is impressive at this kind of age he still has the energy and the commitment, and the love for the game.”
Tuchel has already insisted he will definitely be in charge of Chelsea next season, no matter what happens next, as a £4.25billion takeover by US tycoon Todd Boehly (inset) drags on with uncertainty still swirling around.
Chelsea won the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup but have fallen well short in the title race and lost both domestic cup finals to Liverpool on penalties.
But Tuchel says that, given the circumstances, it has been a challenge they have come through.
“This makes it maybe to the very top of the list of challenging seasons we have had,” said Tuchel. “But I don’t judge seasons like this because, in the moment while you are doing it, it always feels challenging and always feels demanding.
“You are trying to adapt to the situation to find a solution. It is always challenging and that can be from results, atmosphere in the dressing room, or crazy things like sanctions, which nobody could predict or ever think of.
“It was challenging and demanding, yes, but also a lot of fun and it is a pure pleasure to be in the middle of it and to guide the team to be part of it. It’s fine. We always try to adapt and find solutions.”
The Blues are in danger of finishing with the worst home record of all the teams in the top seven and Tuchel is desperate to end the campaign with a home win.
He added: “We can do better. There is not a lot wrong – it is margins. But, like I said, we will look into the season. It is not a moment where we have analysed everything and found the answer because I would have analysed it before.
“We struggle obviously with efficiency, with goalscoring records, with consistency, with determination and position in the box against teams that defend deep.”