Thomas Tuchel is ‘more English than German’ and would tell Bayern Munich chiefs how he preferred jobs in England
GERMANY is proud that the English FA has appointed one of our coaches to the most important post in the motherland of football.
I admit there would be a huge outcry in Germany if a foreigner was to become our national coach — this has never happened.
However, Tuchel is perhaps more English than German.
I know from his time at Bayern he always raved about the Premier League to the Munich players and told club chiefs he preferred working in England than Germany.
There is no question that Tuchel, as a manager, is an expert in tactics and football philosophy.
But in the end, there were always problems with his bosses at both Dortmund and Bayern.
He didn’t have that at Chelsea when he formed a team that won the Champions League in 2021.
Unlike in the Bundesliga, a boss in England is allowed to make more decisions about the squad.
And that will be the big difference… Tuchel doesn’t have to fight with his bosses if he wants players. He can simply select them.
In recent years, the football world has wondered why England doesn’t play better with perhaps the best players in the world. I think the coach was the problem.
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One thing that must be clear to the players is Gareth Southgate’s feel-good oasis is now over. Tuchel will challenge them.
When I saw Southgate on the sideline, I was amazed at how little influence he had on the running game.
Southgate vs Tuchel records compared
THOMAS TUCHEL
Augsburg II 2007-2008
P34 W 20 D8 L6 Win percentage: 58.82%
Mainz 05 2009-2014
P184 W72 D46 L66 Win percentage: 39.13%
Borussia Dortmund 2015-2017
P107 W67 D23 L17 Win percentage: 62.62%
Honours: DFB Pokal
Paris Saint Germain 2018-2020
P127 W95 D13 L16 Win percentage: 74.8%
Honours: Ligue 1 X2, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Trophee des Champions x2
Chelsea 2021-2022
P100 W60 D24 L16 Win percentage: 60%
Honours: Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup
Bayern Munich 2023-2024
P61 W37 D8 L16 Win percentage: 60.66%
Honours: Bundesliga
GARETH SOUTHGATE
Middlesbrough 2006-2009
P151 W54 D43 Win percentage: 35.76%
England U21 2013-2016
P37 W27 D5 L5 Win percentage: 72.97%
Honours: Toulon tournament
England 2016-2024
P102 W61 D24 L17 Win percentage: 59.8%
Honours: Euros runners up, 2020, 2024
Things will be very different under Tuchel. England will see a man actively coaching his players.
This is perhaps the missing piece of the puzzle.
Tuchel is considered the master of knockout games. It shouldn’t be forgotten how close he came to reaching the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
A wrong referee decision alone lost him that semi-final in May.
Tuchel knows tactics. Tuchel can win titles. And that is exactly what England was missing recently to achieve a great triumph.
We know we have a new big rival when it comes to our goal, which coach Julian Nagelsmann has set, of becoming 2026 world champions.
Tuchel can beat Germany at its own game — he now brings the winning mentality to England.
Forgotten England stars could benefit from Tuchel appointment
WITH Thomas Tuchel announced as the next England manager, a few forgotten stars might be hopeful of a return to the international set up.
The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager usually uses a 3-4-3 formation.
That could provide an opening for Mason Mount, who’s not been involved in the England set-up since the World Cup in 2022.
The now Manchester United star enjoyed his most successful spell under Tuchel while the pair were at Stamford Bridge.
Tuchel could also offer lifelines to other previously capped players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Eric Dier.
RLC has excelled since his move to AC Milan and with England struggling to find a partner for Rice, he could be the surprise answer.
Meanwhile, Dier played for Tuchel at Bayern Munich as part of a back-three last season.
The defender did enough to convince the club to make his loan move permanent after he had fallen out of favour at Tottenham.
Click here to see the full England XI who could play under Tuchel.