Retired since February 2019, Hans Komm, 66, was Thomas Tuchel's sports teacher at the Simpert-Kraemer high school in Krumbach. In a Greek restaurant in his village of Ichenhausen, with the help of his sons Matteo (19) and Yannick (21), he revisited the career of the PSG coach before the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League , this Tuesday (9 p.m.), in Dortmund.
What is the first thing that comes to you when you think of Thomas Tuchel?
HANS KOMM. Pride. Thomas was my student! And he has had a superb career. It's great.
How does it feel to see him in Paris?
He has taken great steps in recent years. It's crazy to see that he works with stars like Neymar or Mbappé. Last March, we went to Paris to attend the match against Marseille (3-1), I looked at the newspapers to see what he said, how he played, I was passionate. And I think it's not the end for him. I can imagine that he will one day coach Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester City. Or maybe Bayern if this season is not going well. Even of the German selection if the Euro is a failure…
What was your reaction when you saw the Dortmund - Paris draw?
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I thought it was a nice thing for him anyway. I am very curious to see the reaction of the supporters. I think they will welcome him because he has done a wonderful job with Dortmund. Paris is favorite but the problem for Paris is that in France there is no competition. If Tuchel remains another ten years in Paris, he will undoubtedly be champion ten times. They don't have the pressure in the league, so they don't succeed in the Champions League. Thomas Tuchel is someone very intelligent, very clever. He knows it's a problem. That is why he will probably go to another club.
Was he different from the others when he was young?
You have to admit that he was very good at sports, especially with a ball. He was talented but also ambitious. He always wanted to win. He was very focused on football. I remember a volleyball lesson, he started juggling the ball even though it was forbidden. It was one of the rare moments when it was necessary as a teacher, to speak to him to calm him down. But in general he was always cheerful and not difficult as a student.
Which student was he?
He had great self-confidence, was proud of him. He never drank alcohol. Football has always had a big place. A story sums it up: the kids went to the stadium but to have a few beers at the restaurant. But Thomas asked the teachers to open the doors of the room where the balloons were stored. While the others were seated drinking beer, he ran on the ground with his ball to the foot for half an hour. When I see him today and look back, I find that what he has managed to achieve is not really surprising. He always had the ability to get where he wanted to be.
Was he already showing coaching attitudes?
He may have been young, but tactically he was already very clever. For example in volleyball, he did not hesitate to go take a player from another team to make his own better, since he always wanted to win. Or else he did not hesitate to tell some to play at another position to be more efficient. When he became German school champion with the Gymnasium in Krumbach in 1987, they played the final in Berlin. I was not there but the other teachers told me that Thomas Tuchel had played a leading role in the victory. It is therefore no surprise that he succeeded like that.
Were you sad for him when he stopped playing at the age of just 24 for a knee injury?
I didn't have too much contact at the time. I know he wanted to get away from football. But coincidentally, Ralf Rangnick, whom he had known at Ulm, was there to speak to him and send him to train the young people in Stuttgart. If it hadn't happened, he wouldn't be there. As sad as this period was for him as a player, it is undoubtedly what allowed him to be such a famous coach. One day I was watching TV and I saw an advertisement: oh, Thomas Tuchel is the new trainer of Mainz! I was very happy.
Did you contact him afterwards?
I congratulated him when he became a coach in Mainz. I sent her a few messages. One day I asked him if he could have me some places for my class for a match against Hamburg which is my favorite team. He sent me at least 20 tickets! We were able to go. It was a magnificent gesture.
Afterwards, it's a shame that he doesn't have too much contact with the school and the Krumbach club. But, at the same time, I understand it because it has a lot of things to do between the media, the players ... It's a lot of stress. When we went to Paris in March 2019, we didn't even try to contact him. He knew so many people in Krumbach, he can't see or speak to everyone who goes to Paris! When he is here, he visits his family and stays there. So we don't see it anymore.
When you see him on TV do you recognize your former student?
Yes, it's the same. 100 %. It's Thomas Tuchel!