Tuchel haunted by Reds’ stunning win in Euro showdown
THOMAS Tuchel says that Paris Saint-Germain’s defeat to United in the Champions League last 16 in March 2019 was the worst of his career.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dealing with a 2-0 deficit from the first leg and a raft of injury problems but the Reds pulled off a memorable 3-1 victory in France to go through on away goals.
PSG dominated both legs and David de Gea was forced into a slew of brilliant saves to deny the French onslaught.
Tuchel grew demonstrably frustrated on the sidelines, while a controversial VAR handball handed the Reds a last-gasp penalty which Marcus Rashford slammed home to secure passage into the quarterfinals.
It was another last-16 collapse from PSG, who had become infamous for their mental capitulations in the knockout stages of the competition, and Tuchel admits that the loss hurt him.
“I can be very honest after that match I was two days in a very dark place and I can tell you I was not able to speak to anybody and to think about anything else [other] than this defeat,” Tuchel told reporters this week.
“That was maybe the worst defeat that I experienced because it came from nowhere. In the circumstances that it arrived, I was for two days in a dark place for a coach to be at.”
Now at Chelsea, Tuchel will look to avenge the defeat today when his team play host to the Reds.
Chelsea are yet to lose under Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard earlier this year, and they have the chance to move within three points of their visitors with a win. Tuchel says there is no way to compare the two games, but that he is eager to turn things around against the same opponent.
“There is no way you can compare these two games with each other,” he continued. “I told you how I felt after this defeat in the Champions League. We all know that defeats are hard to digest.
“Am I a good loser? So so. Maybe not so much, but show me a good loser on this level.
“I would love to turn it around. We love the competition and we love to win and we love a good fight for it, and this is what we will hopefully get on Sunday.”
SAM Johnstone says that he does not regret leaving United in 2018 as he could not wait forever for David de Gea to depart.
Johnstone signed with West Brom on a permanent basis after seven loan spells in seven years as a Reds back-up.
He is now reaping the rewards of that decision, having impressed in the Premier League this season as the division’s busiest goalkeeper.
No keeper has made more saves this season than Johnstone, and while West Brom lead the league in goals conceded, the 27-year-old has been widely commended for his performances.
And Johnstone admitted that he knew he was never going to play for United as long as De Gea was there and took the difficult decision to leave.
“Of course leaving United was a tough call, but when you’ve done your loans, banked the experience and David De Gea is still there at No.1 every time you return, you can’t wait around forever,” he said.
“You get the taste for playing every week and when you get to a certain age, you want more than to go training every day hoping your chance will come but wondering if it will materialise. Deep down I knew I wasn’t going to play for Manchester United and I had to go down a different route. It felt crazy to sign for West Brom in the sense that I was becoming somebody else’s player, but I’m loving it here.”
JOHN Stones admitted City were not at their brilliant best against West Ham United - but was delighted to pop up with the winning goal.
Pep Guardiola’s men eventually saw off a spirited Hammers side 2-1 in yesterday’s clash at the Etihad Stadium.
A 20th consecutive victory in all competitions took the Blues 13 points clear of United at the top of the table.
Unusually, both central defenders got on the scoresheet for the home side.
Ruben Dias headed City in front on the half-hour mark, only for Michail Antonio to equalise for fourth-placed West Ham shortly before half-time.
However, Stones fired the hosts ahead once more with an accomplished finish in the 68th minute - and that was how it stayed.
City knew they have been in a match, though, and Stones told BT Sport afterwards: “A lot of credit to West Ham – we knew what they were going to come and do.
“How they’ve been playing recently and their position in the table, it speaks for itself.
“I give a lot of credit to them. They gave us a great game today and we had to fight them right up until the last few minutes, and they made it difficult.
“So we’re really satisfied.
“I think at half-time we were a bit deflated at conceding late in the first half.
“We weren’t at our free-flowing football like we’re used to, I suppose, in the recent weeks.
“But that’s again (due to) how they set up against us.
“I think we showed great character from half-time and during the second half.”
Stones and Dias have earned plenty of plaudits for their
formidable defensive partnership this season – now they are making headlines at the other end of the pitch.
“We try to chip in,” said Stones. “Everyone is out there working hard. Some days, it doesn’t come off for the forwards. Today, me and Ruben chipped in and I think that’s part of us being such a good team and such a collective.
“In big games and important games, everyone chips in or maybe sometimes the person that you don’t expect. Maybe me and Ruben were that today?
“We’re just glad to get the three points and keep this winning run going.”
On Dias, who joined City from Benfica for £65m last summer, Stones added: “I’ve said it numerous times but you can only give credit to him for moving countries to a new club, the way he’s played straight away - not just with me, with Aymie (Aymeric Laporte), whoever’s played, he’s been outstanding.”