Thomas Tuchel was optimistic about the likelihood of having Navas, Marquinhos and Kurzawa from kick-off on Wednesday night (9 p.m.) against Manchester United. At a press conference on Tuesday, on the eve of a decisive match for qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League, the German coach hopes to see his team show more things than last week against Leipzig.
Are you under pressure from fear of elimination?
THOMAS TUCHEL. We felt the same against Leipzig. It’s very clear. Victory was compulsory. Tomorrow, it depends a little on the result from Leipzig to Basaksehir before (Editor’s note: kick off at 6:55 p.m.). It is possible that we arrive at Old Trafford having to win. It’s one of the biggest challenges in the world, getting to Old Trafford, England, not to have a result, but to win. It’s not impossible, we’re going to prepare that. Tactically and mentally. We will try to influence the team in all aspects to be free and disciplined at the same time, to fight a big fight, to be ready to play with confidence and to show the solidarity necessary to overcome this obstacle.
Will your plan be to have more ball and play higher than against Leipzig?
Yes, but that was also the plan against Leipzig. It was not possible for us during this match. If the game demands it, we will have to find answers on the field. It wasn’t a big disappointment against Leipzig, because it wasn’t a game you could control with the ball. It was absolutely necessary to find defensive solutions. We were too low compared to our expectations, but it was necessary. If we have the quality and the confidence to get the ball tomorrow, it will be the best possible for us, but we must be vigilant, because Manchester are one of the best teams in Europe for offensive counter-attacks. If necessary, we must block them. We’re going to try to win, to have possession, because it’s a style that gives a lot of confidence. Our opponent has a lot of qualities and we will answer questions for the match.
Are you going to align Marquinhos again in central defense?
I’m not going to say it now, because we’re playing tomorrow. Of course, this is a question that interests Solskjaer a lot and I cannot say it.
In the locker room on Sunday, you told your players that you hadn’t seen the same state of mind as in Lisbon lately?
I’m very surprised, because I didn’t see you in the locker room on Sunday morning. It’s a big surprise that you know what we talked about. It’s not just a matter of state of mind. The situation is very complicated because there are a lot of reasons. Much has been said about these reasons. We presented ourselves against Leipzig as in a group final and now we arrive at Old Trafford. We’re not here to make excuses. We are here to show the best possible face. It’s a big challenge because the team is very strong. It is not just a question of state of mind, but it is of course also one of the elements.
How do you explain the difficulties of Kylian Mbappé, who has not scored for a year in the Champions League?
I heard this statistic an hour ago and was very surprised. I can’t explain it, because Kylian has everything to score at all levels and of course also in the Champions League. It’s a good opportunity to end this period. It’s too long for us. This is also another reason why we only have six points. Because it’s hard to score for us. I can’t explain it, because it has it all, the quality, the personality, and the experience to be decisive. We’re all going to be there to push him to the best possible level.
What do you think of the reunion with Edinson Cavani?
He was decisive in the last game against Southampton. He showed his quality, his heart and his determination. It is not a surprise. We know him well, we must find solutions against him. Edinson is a kind, determined person on the pitch. He’s always ready to do anything for the team, that’s rare for a goalscorer. He has a big impact, he’s available 24/7. Call him and he’s there to score. We already know all that, he doesn’t have to show it tomorrow against us.
What do you think of Marcus Rashford, on and off the pitch?
I prefer when he plays in England than at the Parc des Princes, because we had problems with him! He is a young boy, who takes a lot of responsibilities off the pitch. It is very impressive. I have met him three times as an opponent, he is a nice boy, very pleasant. At the sporting level, it is a great threat with its speed, its ability to score, its positioning and its finish. He’s very precise inside and outside the box, he’s very quick on the counterattack, strong in the air from the head. It has a big impact.
How do you see the influence of Bruno Fernandes?
It’s impressive, because he had a big influence in the team from his first minutes in Manchester. That is exceptional. This is not normal, because there are big differences with Portugal. He was already very strong at Sporting. We watched him for a few seasons and he always improved. He was a captain, he always took his responsibilities. He’s a real leader. He is a key player for Manchester United. We will all try to find solutions against him. He’s a key player, but he’s not alone on this team.
