Wednesday 05 May 2021
Coach Tuchel has to follow up
Chelsea are on the verge of historic double
A women’s and a men’s team from a club have never made it to the final of the Champions League in the same year. The footballers of Chelsea FC have submitted that Thomas Tuchel’s team must now follow suit. Real Madrid start at a slight disadvantage.
Thomas Tuchel can hardly wait. “It’s going to be exciting,” said the team manager about his historic final mission with Chelsea in the Champions League against record winners Real Madrid. The women’s team of the Blues has presented and has already reached the final of the premier class – now, said trainer Emma Hayes, it would be “fantastic” if the men could take on “top coach” Tuchel.
And it would be a novelty: Neither team had a club in the final of the most important European club competition in the same year. Tuchel is determined to give it to the “ladies” in the semi-final second leg tonight (9 p.m. / Sky, DAZN and in the live ticker at ntv.de) against Los Blancos to imitate Toni Kroos and election worker Marcelo. “We’re ready for a big fight,” he said. After the 1-1 draw in Madrid “we will need an outstanding performance because Real will make it really difficult for us”. The Madrid are under pressure, a goalless draw would be enough for Chelsea.
And Tuchel can have the final: he made it into the final with Paris St. Germain last season, but lost there against FC Bayern (0: 1). This time, said his colleague Hayes, the pot should be here – twice. At Chelsea it’s not about reaching the finals, she stressed, “but about winning them”. Tuchel knows this, even if the only Champions League triumph for the Blues in Munich’s “Drama dahoam” 2012 was nine years ago. “We are full of self-confidence and are looking forward to these games at the highest level,” he said, “that’s what we all dream of.” He doesn’t want to think about the title yet: “We work hard and stay on the ground.”
Klinsmann speaks out in favor of Werner
Chelsea, however, are Real’s fearsome opponents and are the only club still undefeated after four games against the Madrilenians (two wins). And Tuchel is the only coach in the world who is undefeated even after five duels with Los Blancos. But, as goalkeeper Edouard Mendy warned, “we haven’t won anything and have to be ready for a battle”.
The line-up is a “headache” for Tuchel: Antonio Rüdiger could play with a mask after his facial injury, as the coach announced. But should Tuchel leave Kai Havertz in the team after the double against Fulham? And then what to do with Timo Werner, who once again missed a huge chance in the first leg? “We have to accept that strikers miss chances, sometimes great chances. It’s part of the game,” said Tuchel at the press conference, adding: “Everyone has to improve and take responsibility for scoring goals. I’m pretty relaxed and trusting my players, no matter who starts tomorrow. “
The former Leipzig Werner received encouragement from Jürgen Klinsmann. “I have complete confidence in Timo because he knows when he has to be where,” said the former national coach at ESPN: “The boy is good – and he will prove it. His drive, talent and nose are unbelievable.”
Real, unbeaten in 19 competitive games, have to do without Raphael Varane and Daniel Carvajal, but rely on their recovered captain Sergio Ramos. The Brazilian Marcelo also flew after he had fulfilled his obligations as an election worker in Madrid. “We will have to suffer,” said coach Zinedine Zidane, “but we are still alive.”
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