TUCHEL’S OM RIGHT TRACK
THOMAS TUCHEL is plotting a path to FA Cup success – with the art of meditation.
The Chelsea boss is an excitable figure on the touchline during games and is looking forward to his first Wembley final and the chance to win his first piece of silverware.
But he revealed that he will try to calm himself before the big occasion by mediating, joking that he hopes to float “30 centimetres off the floor”.
The German said: “I try to wake up early and do some sports and some meditation and then be ready to prepare the first meeting.
“Just 20 minutes breathe in, breathe out. And try hard to do nothing.
“Some years ago I came into this. It helped me and it was a nice experience. When
I was a coach at Borussia Dortmund.
“Sometimes I do it twice a day, other times I forget and go without it for a couple of weeks.
“Usually I fly 20 or 30 centimetres off the floor. I glide around the room! No, it is nothing special. It is breathing and trying hard to do nothing.”
Tuchel admits he will be nervous, but believes every manager should be twitchy before a big final.
And yet he also wants to lighten the mood for his players.
“I can remember in Dortmund I was in goal in the last session before the final,” he added.
“I took the gloves from the goalkeeper and tried to save some shots from my players.
“It was a big laugh and we made fun of myself, but you can’t do it artificially. Sometimes it happens. Laughter is always very welcome. But if you try hard to make the group smile it doesn’t happen. It has to come naturally. If you don’t feel it, don’t do it. Just prepare as normal.
“The tension will grow once we arrive at Wembley. There will be a certain energy in the air that you maybe cannot be prepared for. You will feel it and embrace it and go for the challenge and do what we all love at the very best level.”
Tuchel also revealed that his wife and children are on a visit to England even though they have yet to move across permanently. His other half will be at Wembley hoping he will lift his first trophy at Chelsea.
He said: “My kids are too young to be in the stadium, but my wife will be there which is very nice. It’s nice they are in the country – a big reward.
“Very nice. I love to play the final with them here. They are not here for good, they are on a visit.
“My wife is a very, very good spectator and huge luck so I’m happy my family plan to visit and it is possible for her to be in the stadium.
“It is a big boost – it can not be anything other than luck if your family is there.”
‘The tension will grow at Wembley. There will be energy in the air’