From Manchester to Lisbon, the big gap in results
In two and a half years, Thomas Tuchel will have known everything.
From the club's worst humiliation in the Champions League against Manchester United's B team, in 2019, to the epic until the final last summer, thus completing a near-perfect 2019-20 season in which Paris got hold of all the French trophies (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Champions Trophy).
During his first exercise at the head of PSG, the German technician had to be satisfied with the title of champion of France and the Champions Trophy, yielding to penalties in the final of the Coupe de France against Rennes in the final.
In total, six trophies, 127 matches, 96 wins, 11 draws and 20 losses.
In terms of winning percentage, only Unai Emery, his predecessor, did better (76.3% against 75.6).
Since the resumption, already six losses, including two in C1, which did not prevent Paris from finishing first in its group.
In L1, the Parisians have not beaten any of their three main rivals, OM (0-1), Lyon (0-1) and Lille (0-0), and are classified third after 17 days, at one point leaders.
Still, in the event of a victory in the final against Bayern Munich last summer, a match that could very well have turned in the right direction, Tuchel would have been praised.
So close, so far ...
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A uniform locker room, but ... With
a limited experience of a very high level, after passing through Mainz and Dortmund, Tuchel rubbed shoulders with a team of stars for the first time.
He quickly put the locker room in his pocket, multiplying gestures of affection towards executives and especially South Americans.
Since then, we have said a whole lot of things, but on the pitch, we have seen a united group, players who are moving in the same direction.
This is what allowed them to overthrow BVB 09 and invite themselves to Lisbon.
Apart from the first leg against Barcelona in 2017, we had not often felt this when seeing the PSG matches of Unai Emery for example ... From there to say that the locker room had a mad love for the German coach, it would be maybe overkill.
But we did not feel a group that let go of its trainer.
However, to keep this locker room, it is not nothing ... Perhaps the Bavarian has made too many sacrifices for that, losing his authority in the process.
Latest example:
RMC
reports that Kylian Mbappé refused to go out during the recent match against Lorient (2-0), while Tuchel wanted to spare him in accordance with the medical opinion.
Despite a change of tone before the final sprint in the C1 squad, he seemed to be losing his influence lately.
Injuries in question
A real plague since the start of the season: the infirmary is always full.
Again against Strasbourg, Wednesday (4-0), Thomas Tuchel had to compose without ten players!
Of course, muscle injuries are on the rise all over Europe.
But not as much as in Paris… How to reverse the trend?
"Frankly I do not know.
I can assure you that we try everything, ”he swore lately.
Except that the epidemic does not date from this season.
Certainly, the situation has worsened.
But we are entitled to wonder if the methods of the technical and medical staff are not in question, in addition to the context.
Some answers in the coming weeks, when his successor will be in business.
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In bulldozer mode in front of the microphones… and internally
If he remembers being pleasant, smiling and speaking at a press conference, the German technician - who has only a limited taste for public speaking - also pricked big anger and was (very) bad at times.
He was clearly not his best lawyer.
Last rant to date?
Between Leipzig (defeat 1-2) and MU (victory 3-1), when it was question of a possible feverishness of PSG.
“You can ask that question in the locker room.
If you have the balls to do that ... I'm tired of always meeting your expectations ... Tired, "he stormed.
Brilliant and honest, football lover, he has never understood or accepted the special context of PSG and its "extreme expectations".
Above all, Tuchel isolated himself by sometimes attacking management head-on, as in Dortmund.
We can no longer count the scratches at Antero Henrique.
"Leo" also took it for his rank this season.
The answer was quick: crisp reframing of the Brazilian sports director.
Basically, he was often right.
On the form, he could put on gloves.
And the form is obviously important too.
In the end, Thomas Tuchel was extremely isolated within the club, where we only waited for the last drop of water to press the button.
The real-fake interview with
Sport1
may have had this effect, even if some sources suggest that his future was already sealed before.
The game, what game?
The successes over Liverpool (2-1), Dortmund (2-0), Atalanta (2-1), Leipzig (3-0) and twice in Manchester (2-0 and 3-1) will remain as its main feats of arms.
But we never felt Paris in steamroller mode, like Liverpool or Munich, sure of itself and domineering.
That did not prevent "his" PSG from being 90 minutes from the consecration in C1.
One thing is certain: the Rouge et Bleu have never had a real playing identity with Tuchel.
Besides, he never found THE suitable formula either, going from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, and recently 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.
The great technician that he is has never really shown all the good that one thinks of it seen from Germany.
Above all, he never found the key to getting the best out of the group while putting Neymar and Mbappé in orbit.
Instead, the two superstars have often been too lonely in the animation, the only solutions.
We can also regret some improbable decisions, such as this Danilo-Marquinhos inversion.
From Fernandez to Kombouaré, they played and trained at PSG (slideshow)
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In images, in pictures
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