Paris (AFP)
In two and a half years in Paris, Thomas Tuchel, whose dismissal has been announced by several media, will have experienced moments of intense joy, winning the first Champions League final in the history of PSG in Lisbon.
But also resounding setbacks, such as the "comeback" suffered against Manchester United in 2019.
- On his appointment, the elected representative of Doha -
Welcomed in the summer of 2018 with skepticism because of his meager record with Dortmund (German Cup in 2017) and his inexperience with the megastars, the German is presented as a direct choice of the Qatari shareholder.
Quickly, he made his mark with his strong personality and his very attacking football, developing a skilful management of the demanding Parisian locker room, between "happy management" (additional days of vacation and regular signs of affection) and penalties in the event of odd.
Above all, "TT" made the Parisian team an incredible machine to win and crush its opponents: Monaco suffered at the beginning of August 2018, rolled 4-0 at the Champions Trophy, prelude to a record series of 14 consecutive victories in League 1.
- Liverpool, first success -
Badly engaged in a "group of death" in the group stage of the Champions League in the fall of 2018, Paris SG de Tuchel is doing with the manner: Neymar and others beat Liverpool 2-1, future winner of the 'test, before securing first place in their group which also featured the Naples of Carlo Ancelotti, one of his predecessors in Paris.
The comments, laudatory for the German technician, suggest that with Tuchel, the PSG may have healed his crumbly mind which led him to a resounding elimination, a year earlier, during the famous "remountada" suffered in round of 16 in C1 in Barcelona (4-0, 1-6).
- Manchester United, withering -
Three months later, backstay: PSG falls back into its pitfalls, again in the eighth, against Manchester United.
Winner 2-0 in the first leg, the capital club suffered an incredible "comeback" from the "Red Devils" in the return leg at the Parc des Princes: 3-1 defeat and elimination on a late penalty from Marcus Rashford.
Tuchel may have raised the thesis of "the accident" after this incredible quack which triggers the anger of the ultras supporters, Swabia is pointed out as one of the persons responsible for the fiasco.
In the process, the PSG, shaken, saw a dismal end of the season, marked by the defeat in the final of the Coupe de France against Rennes (2-2 ap, 6 tab to 5).
It is finally the sports director Antero Henrique who will take the door in June 2019, while Tuchel sees his lease extended until 2021
"I want to stay a long time, I want to grow and be successful with the club, that's my goal. It's absolutely clear," he said.
- Lisbon, the historical epic -
While he had won only two trophies in his first season (Ligue 1 and Champions Trophy), his second exercise confirms an improvement in results, with a national quadruple won despite a schedule disrupted by the coronavirus.
But his Parisian masterpiece comes in the Champions League, the great goal of the Qatari owners: his PSG crosses the eighth against Dortmund (2-0) despite a defeat in the first leg (2-1) and qualifies for the quarters , reprogrammed in the form of a final tournament in Lisbon after the interruption of competition in the spring due to a pandemic.
The stunning success in the quarter against Atalanta Bergamo (2-1) validates his paid replacements.
The half against RB Leipzig (3-0) highlights his tactical mastery.
And Bayern was just too strong (1-0 defeat) in the final, the first in the history of PSG in the Champions League.
"The truth, I think, is that he is having the best season in the history of the club," sums up his striker Kylian Mbappé.
- The transfer window, a stumbling block -
But Tuchel is regularly annoyed by the lack of gratitude of his management, a tension that crystallizes during the mercatos, as in January 2019 or in the fall of 2020.
Last October, the German criticizes the weakening of the workforce after departures that he considers not replaced.
It is immediately reframed publicly by the sporting director Leonardo.
"The club did not like, I did not like", answers "Leo".
"If someone is not happy, if they decide to stay, they have to respect either sports policy or internal rules."
The incident appeared to be closed, but new statements from Tuchel have followed in recent hours: in an interview on German television, "TT" regretted the lack of "recognition".
Words that have no doubt sealed the fate of Thomas Tuchel at PSG who locks himself in silence.
© 2020 AFP