Lisbon (AFP)

Despite the defeat in the Champions League final against Bayern (1-0) on Sunday, coach Thomas Tuchel has his reference moment with Paris SG, where, from the development of Neymar and his winning coaching, the German technician has imposed its mark.

For his Bayern counterpart Hansi Flick, "he's doing a very good job." "He's a nice guy and a great coach," said Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann.

The "Final 8" was that of all the compliments for the German technician who won, in the capital too, the recognition he has long awaited.

The astounding success in the quarter against Atalanta Bergamo (2-1) validated his paid replacements. The half against RB Leipzig (3-0) highlighted his mastery of tactics.

"This qualification (in the final) is also his," wrote L'Equipe. "There were sometimes misunderstandings between the players and Thomas Tuchel. They are now dispelled (...) Tuchel has rebounded," said Le Parisien for his part.

He thus became the first coach to take PSG to the C1 final, to a level ardently desired by the Qatari owner of the club who had made the "big-eared cup" his big goal, when he arrived in 2011.

Against Munich, for "the most important match of (his) career", Tuchel was powerless against the German block which highlighted the limits of its system, especially in the middle.

But there will remain from this Lisbon epic many successes, such as the development of Neymar, and the affirmation of a strong state of mind - the "spirit" that he repeated at a press conference.

- Another remount -

"I heard a lot of things about the coach, like that he did not control his locker room, that he did not know how to manage stars ... The truth, I think, is that he is having the best season of the history of the club, "said Kylian Mbappé before the final.

"He managed to put us all in a good state of mind. After, of course, there were ups and downs, but it happens to all coaches in the world. In Paris, we see it a little more , that's all. He's really a great coach in whom we believe, "he continued.

Under these conditions, it is difficult to see PSG not applying the recipe of the German, linked to the club until 2021, next season.

Before leaving for Portugal, the sporting director Leonardo, speaking to journalists, had however remained evasive on the question of his maintenance: "He has one year of contract left."

This is not the first time that the departure of "TT" was talked about, the fault of a failed first season.

This 2018-2019 exercise began his aura of young tactical first, trainer, close to the players and follower of attacking football, whose visit to Dortmund (2015-2017) fueled comparisons with Jürgen Klopp when he arrived, in the summer of 2018.

Recruited after Unai Emery, Tuchel disappointed on his debut, losing the two national cups and above all, bringing back the nightmare of the "remountada" to supporters, against Manchester United in the 8th of the Champions League.

Brilliant at Old Trafford on the first leg (2-0), his team collapsed on the return (3-1), conceding a fatal penalty in added time.

- "A coach who knows how to talk" -

But from this complicated start to 2019, it was sporting director Antero Henrique who paid the price. The Portuguese manager was replaced in June with the big comeback of Leonardo, while the coach signed an extension for an additional season, until 2021.

His second exercise confirmed an improvement in results, with a national quadruplet (L1, Champions Trophy, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue) won despite a schedule disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

At the end of July, he celebrated his 100th game on the bench, with an excellent record of 78 wins (for 13 defeats and 9 draws).

"He is a coach who knows how to talk. When he has something to say, he says it and he knows how to say it", praised Marquinhos, before the victory against Liverpool (2-1) in November 2018.

Tuchel also contributed to the tactical reshaping of his team, with the repositioning in the middle of Marquinhos. He only has one of the biggest trophies left to win.

© 2020 AFP