When the UEFA Champions League of the 2020-21 season kicked off nearly a year ago, Chelsea were not even remotely considered as one of Europe’s top contenders. The Blues were in disarray under Frank Lampard, with the team languishing in mid-table and their star-studded squad failing to live up to expectations. Lampard, once a club legend, was sacked, and the Stamford Bridge faithful braced themselves for yet another managerial upheaval. Meanwhile, across the English Channel in Paris, another high-profile managerial casualty occurred. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) parted ways with Thomas Tuchel, and within days, the German tactician found himself taking charge of a Chelsea team that had been drifting aimlessly. What followed was nothing short of a footballing renaissance.
Upon his appointment in January 2021, Tuchel’s initial goal
was simple: to guide Chelsea back into the Champions League for the following
season via a top-four Premier League finish. The idea of him leading the team
to Champions League glory seemed almost absurd. Chelsea, a club struggling to
find its identity and purpose, was hardly equipped to take on Europe’s elite.
But Tuchel, with his meticulous attention to detail and unwavering belief in
his methods, set about reshaping the team’s mentality. In a club where
self-belief had been lacking, Tuchel’s first challenge was to instil the
mentality of a champion.
A Perfectionist’s
Approach: The Tuchel Method
Tuchel’s coaching philosophy is built upon an obsessive
attention to detail and an insatiable desire for perfection. His former
colleague, Christian Heidel, recalls a moment during a training camp in Austria
when Tuchel became so enamoured with the quality of the pitch that he
contemplated hiring the groundsman for Mainz. It’s a small anecdote, but it
encapsulates Tuchel’s approach to football: every detail matters, and
everything must be perfect.
“He thinks about football 24/7,” Heidel says. “Every
training has to be perfect. He plays the game in his head beforehand. He needs
everything to go according to plan, especially tactical discipline – where the
players are standing, where they have to go. This makes it very hard to play against
teams coached by Thomas.”
Tuchel’s focus on tactical discipline and precision is not
limited to the field; it extends to every facet of his coaching. He demands
total commitment from his players, not just in terms of physical effort, but in
their understanding of the game. His passion for winning can sometimes manifest
as frustration, but it is always coupled with a deep emotional connection to
his players. As Heidel notes, “If there is a loss, it’s almost like physical
pain. He’s very emotional. He can blow up at players because he’s so eager to
win. But he’s also someone who will hug them afterwards.”
This emotional intensity, combined with a profound
understanding of the game, has made Tuchel one of the most respected tactical
minds in football. His former mentor, Erich Rutemoller, recalls how Tuchel’s
passion for learning was evident even in his early coaching days. “He
understood the science of training, sports medicine, physiology, and
psychology,” Rutemoller says. “He was already a very good student. He was
pretty quiet. He was watching and listening. And he was smart.”
Transforming Chelsea:
From Chaos to Control
In less than five months, Tuchel transformed Chelsea from a
team in turmoil into European champions. His tactical acumen, combined with his
ability to connect with players on a personal level, played a pivotal role in
Chelsea’s resurgence. Tuchel’s first act as Chelsea manager was to restore
balance to the team. He quickly recognized the importance of N’Golo Kanté,
deploying him in a central midfield role where his world-class ability to break
up opposition attacks and dictate play became the foundation of Chelsea’s
success. Kanté’s influence in the Champions League final against Manchester
City was undeniable, as he dominated the midfield and even contributed with a
crucial goal-scoring run.
Tuchel’s defensive solidity was equally impressive. By
reintroducing Antonio Rudiger into the heart of the defence and employing a
tactical setup that emphasized pressing and closing down spaces, he made
Chelsea a formidable unit. Under Tuchel, Chelsea became a team that not only
defended with discipline but also attacked with purpose. The team’s balance,
both defensively and offensively, was a direct result of Tuchel’s tactical
brilliance.
Outwitting Europe’s
Elite
One of Tuchel’s most impressive feats was his ability to
outwit some of the most accomplished coaches in world football. In the 2020-21
season, Tuchel faced off against the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp,
Carlo Ancelotti, Diego Simeone, Jose Mourinho, and Zinedine Zidane. Remarkably,
Chelsea did not lose to any of these top-tier coaches, conceding just two goals
in the process. Tuchel’s tactical approach was particularly effective against
Guardiola’s Manchester City, whom he defeated in the Champions League final.
In that final, Guardiola’s decision to exclude Fernandinho,
the anchor of City’s midfield, was a curious one. Without the Brazilian’s
stabilizing presence, City’s midfield was more vulnerable, and Tuchel
capitalized on this weakness. By pressing high and exploiting the spaces left
by City’s high defensive line, Chelsea were able to control the game. Tuchel’s
tactical masterstroke was evident in the way he used his players: Reece James
nullified Raheem Sterling’s threat, while Mason Mount’s incisive pass to Kai
Havertz resulted in the only goal of the match, a moment that will be etched in
Chelsea’s history.
A Tactical Revolution:
The Importance of Mentality
Tuchel’s success at Chelsea cannot be attributed to tactics
alone. His ability to instill a winning mentality in his players was equally
crucial. In a club that had previously lacked consistency and belief, Tuchel
made it his mission to build a team that thought about winning every time they
took the field. This shift in mindset was evident in the Champions League
final, where Chelsea played with the confidence and composure of seasoned
champions.
Tuchel’s influence extended beyond the tactical realm; he
nurtured a team spirit that was vital to Chelsea’s success. His relationship
with the players was built on mutual respect and a shared commitment to
excellence. As his former mentor Hermann Badstuber notes, Tuchel’s coaching
style created a sense of brotherhood among the players. “He built a very tight
relationship with the players. It felt like not just a player-coach
relationship. We were like brothers.”
Writing His Name in
Chelsea’s History
When Tuchel arrived at Chelsea, few could have predicted the
impact he would have. The club was in disarray, and the prospect of winning the
Champions League seemed remote. Yet, less than five months later, Tuchel had transformed
Chelsea into European champions. His tactical brilliance, emotional
intelligence, and relentless pursuit of excellence were key to this remarkable
achievement.
In Porto, as Tuchel stood among the glittering trophies and
blue confetti, it was clear that he had written his name into Chelsea’s
history. The triumph was not just a victory in a single match, but the
culmination of a process that had begun with Tuchel’s unwavering belief in his
methods and his ability to transform a team in crisis into champions of Europe.
For Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel is not just a coach; he is the
architect of a new era. His legacy will be defined by more than just the
trophies he won; it will be remembered for the mentality he instilled in his
players, the tactical revolution he implemented, and the history he helped
write.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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