THRISSUR: When Thomas Tuchel guided Chelsea to a Champions League triumph last season, little did he imagine he would be spending this time of the year in Kerala when the football season is on in full swing in England. The surprise ouster last month left the German disappointed. He packed his bag and flew down to Kerala for a rejuvenation treatment in Thrissur.
Before he flew back to England on Saturday night, the 49-year-old took time out to speak to TOI. Excerpts from an interview:
Are you still upset at the way you had to leave Chelsea?
I am upset because I think the job at Chelsea was not finished. We had overcome an incredibly demanding time, with a change in ownership and being sanctioned (due to ex-Chelsea owner Roman Abrahimovic's Russian nationality). And before that, we had Covid. So it was pretty demanding, but we had very good bonding. But the owners had a different idea and we had to accept it.
Do you have regrets about joining Chelsea considering the way you were sent off?
No. Chelsea was a fantastic experience, and it was a very special club for me and a very special connection from the first day.
You have coached teams in almost all the top leagues. Which one is the most competitive league for you?
The level of competitiveness of the Premier League is high. The best coaches and players are from the Premier League. The best payers play not in two or three clubs, but they play in six or seven clubs. Every week you have one or two matches which are seen all over the world. At present, the most competitive league in the world is the Premier League.
Despite being the best league, England national team's performance has been scrappy. Your thoughts… I think they are doing very well actually. They might seem that they are not that good but they were in the final of the European championship, the semifinals of the last World Cup. I think they will be very competitive in Qatar. .
But only a few youngsters from England team which won the 2017 U-17 World Cup has managed to find a place in top clubs. . .
It is one of the problems of having a very competitive football league. Sometimes it is very hard for young players to make an impression. So a lot of English national players at a very young age go to Germany, Holland to get minutes to play and then they come back to England to make an impression. The pool of players in the 2017 U-17 World Cup has reached a new level of competitiveness.
Who will be the top title contenders in Qatar?
I think the favourites are Brazil, France, maybe Argentina and Germany. England and Belgium could be underdogs. Senegal is also a very strong team and don't forget Spain, they are always in the mix.
Mbappe got a permanent contract at PSG under you. What are your thoughts on the player? Will he be the standout player in Qatar?
I played against Kylian in Dortmund (as coach) against Monaco in the Champions League. Unfortunately, he knocked us out of the competition. He is one of the best strikers in the world, that's for sure.
