Football: PSG formalizes the dismissal of its coach Thomas Tuchel
German coach Thomas Tuchel arrived in Paris in 2018. REUTERS / Gonzalo Fuentes
Text by: Tom Rossi Follow
5 mins
PSG officially announced, this Tuesday, December 29, to have dismissed its trainer Thomas Tuchel.
He should be replaced by Mauricio Pochettino.
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The news was announced to him late on the evening of December 23, just after the Parisians 4-0 victory against Strasbourg, on the 17th day of Ligue 1. A week later, Paris Saint-Germain finally communicated on the dismissal Thomas Tuchel, coach in office since May 2018 and whose contract was due to end next June.
“
After an in-depth analysis of its sporting situation, Paris Saint-Germain decided to terminate Thomas Tuchel's contract
,” the capital club announced in a press release on Tuesday, December 29.
Tense relations with Leonardo
The 47-year-old German technician was in fact in the hot seat since the start of the season after criticizing his club's summer transfer window.
On October 2, its sporting director Leonardo had even reframe it publicly after a 6-1 victory against Angers: "
The club did not like and, personally, I did not like
".
The two defeats in the Champions League against Manchester United (October 20) and
Leipzig
(November 4) had not helped, leaving the idea of a departure of the German.
But the Parisians then raised the bar in the European Cup to finally finish
first in their group
, less than four months after offering the club the first Champions League final in its history.
Insufficient for Leonardo, who did not appreciate the disappointing start to the season for PSG in Ligue 1, with four defeats including two against competitors:
Marseille
on September 13 and
Lyon
on December 13.
Thomas Tuchel with Neymar after the defeat in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich (0-1), on August 23, 2020 in Lisbon.
AP - Miguel A. Lopes
This dismissal also comes the day after the broadcast of an interview given by Thomas Tuchel to the German media Sport 1. During this interview, the former coach of Dortmund had notably declared that “
a club like PSG has many influences which go far beyond the interests of the team (…) I just love football and, in a club like this, it is not always about football.
There, I say to myself: 'But I just want to be a coach'
».
What to add fuel to the fire of his disgrace in Paris where he is far from being supported by the supporters, despite the two championship titles of France and this final in Lisbon.
Thomas Tuchel was also on the bench in the Champions League round of 16 second leg lost to Manchester United in 2019, after winning the first leg at Old Trafford.
An English “
comeback
” that is difficult for many to swallow, such as placing central defender Marquinhos in midfield.
Mauricio Pochettino should replace him
Thomas Tuchel will therefore leave to his successor a Paris Saint-Germain third in Ligue 1, one point behind leader Lyon, and qualified for the round of 16 of the Champions League,
against FC Barcelona
.
The one who should take his place according to several French media is none other than a former player of the capital club: Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentinian was indeed a defender and captain of PSG between 2001 and 2003 and has always said he wanted to return to Paris.
Argentinian Mauricio Pochettino was Tottenham's coach from 2014 to 2019. Reuters / Hannah McKay Livepic
As a coach, the Argentine has a reputation for trying to play well his teams (Espanyol Barcelona, Southampton, Tottenham).
Disciple of Marcelo Bielsa, he is a fan of high pressing to stifle the opposing team.
If he has never won any trophy in his ten-year career on the bench, the 48-year-old technician has nevertheless managed to reach
the final of the Champions League in 2019 with the "
Spurs
"
.
One year before Thomas Tuchel.
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