Saturday 23 October 2021
“Caught in a trap”
Tuchel regrets statements about Haaland
Actually, he doesn’t talk about footballers from other clubs, says Thomas Tuchel. The FC Chelsea coach makes an exception for Erling Haaland – and is now annoyed about it. He “should have known better,” states the 48-year-old.
There are good arguments that Erling Haaland is currently the most sought-after footballer in the world. The striker could not maintain the sensational quota of the U20 World Cup 2019 – he scored nine times in a single game and was the top scorer of the tournament despite the preliminary rounds. But 70 goals in 69 competitive games for Borussia Dortmund, that’s a record that is impressive. Especially for someone who, at the age of 21, should still have the best years of his career ahead of him. That is why those responsible at Chelsea FC have “spoken a few times about Erling Haaland,” as his team manager Thomas Tuchel recently explained.
A statement that the former coach of FSV Mainz 05, BVB and Paris St. Germain now regrets, as he told the English media: “Usually I never, really never talk about other players.” But this time it was, “more or less” for fun, but Tuchel “should have known better”. Especially since statements like these are of course immediately noticed worldwide, because Haaland is considered one of the greatest promises of world football.
“I fell into a trap,” said Tuchel, according to English reports, when he traveled to Germany on the occasion of his “Coach of the Year” award. The “Sport Bild” awarded him this title after he had sensationally won the Champions League with Chelsea. “I was given the award and asked about the player,” said Tuchel. “The player” in this case is of course Haaland.
Instead of declining in a friendly manner, the 48-year-old then joked that one could “like to talk” about a storm duo between the Norwegian and Romelu Lukaku. However, this was then interpreted in such a way that the Londoners would consider and prepare a concrete offer to Borussia Dortmund. Which would be understandable given Haaland’s goal rate, but is rarely announced in the media. Which is why Tuchel is now rowing back a little to cool down the heated rumor mill about the young Norwegian. Although it would be negligent to assume that the Blues would no longer be interested in Haaland.