The former coach of Paris Saint-Germain between 2018 and 2020, Thomas Tuchel, spoke this Sunday during an interview with Canal Football Club, in which he looks back on these Parisian years. Now a Bayern Munich technician after his time in England at Stamford Bridge, the Bavarian coach was questioned about the similarities between a club like Munich and PSG, particularly on the media aspect.
“Everyone watches Bayern in Germany,” he explains. Little things are very big. A bit like in Paris, former players are on TV and give their opinions, which can create a lot of outside stories. At the same time, the institution here is very strong. In Paris you had to do a little politics, a little more than in a club like Chelsea. It’s also the question of how PSG is seen in France and in Paris, it’s really unique.”
His adventure with the Rouge et Bleu had, in fact, ended short after a few media outings that were not appreciated internally, in particular his declarations to the German media Sport 1: “Am I still a coach or am I a sports politician, a minister of Sports? Where is my role as a coach in such a club now? “. After a month of tensions, Thomas Tuchel was sacked by the capital club on December 23, 2020, despite a 4-0 victory against Strasbourg.
“Kylian Mbappé? Yes, yes, he will play for us. […] If he wants, I’ll even pick him up by bike” ????
Thomas Tuchel’s response to a possible arrival of Mbappé at Bayern next summer ???? pic.twitter.com/TXGQugZxUh
— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) November 12, 2023
However, his attachment to PSG has not disappeared, and the finalist of the Champions League with Paris (before winning it with Chelsea) remains attentive to the Parisian course in C1: “I watched Milan-PSG, because that I really loved my years in Paris, with this team. Milan were very strong at home, it was impressive, they played with a lot of intensity. I am convinced that Paris will qualify even if it is a difficult group. Do I want to face them? Oula… I don’t really like playing against my old teams, I don’t want to get my heart broken. In a final, OK? »
To conclude the interview in a humorous tone, the German technician was questioned about Kylian Mbappé, at the end of his contract in June 2024, and about a possible arrival of the French star across the Rhine. “Yes, he’s going to play for us, that’s clear. Kylian, it’s Kylian, it’s extraordinary. He is very intelligent and knows what he wants. He and I have a good relationship. If he wants, I will even pick him up with the bike (laughs). But I don’t think that will be reality.”
