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.
Chelsea boss Tuchel, 48, comes face to face with veteran Watford boss Hodgson on Sunday having met and struck at a friendship with the ex-England manager during a coaches’ conference a few years back.
Hodgson has retired once and came back but says he will call it quits once and for all this time. But while most managers laugh off the idea of going on as long as Hodgson, Tuchel says he can picture himself doing the same. Tuchel 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 at the sideline with him and if he is the last game, he deserved full, full credit for his career. It is impressive in 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 US tycoon Todd Boehly’s £4.25m takeover drags on with uncertainty still swirling around Stamford Bridge.
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Chelsea won the European Super Cup and also 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 which 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.”
They 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. Tuchel added: “I think we can do better. I think 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.”
