Among the matches in the match, expected this Saturday evening in the C1 final, the one that will oppose Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel is one of the most exciting.
The two coaches find themselves in the final of the most prestigious of European competitions.
Two coaches who, despite their differences, resemble each other in their management styles and their vision of football.
Opposite journeys
Before becoming a coach, Guardiola had an accomplished playing career. Trained in Barcelona, the Spaniard was one of Barça's executives in the 90s. Six times Spanish champion and winner of the Champions League in 1992, Guardiola wore the Spanish national team jersey 47 times before concluding his career in 2006 after a last experience in Mexico. Thomas Tuchel was not as successful as his Iberian friend. He started his career at the Stuttgart Kickers in German D2. While playing in Ulm in the German fourth division, Tuchel ended his career at 25 after a serious injury.
At the end of the 2000s, the two men began a coaching career.
In 2008 Guardiola was appointed Barça coach and in 2009 Tuchel became Mainz coach.
From his first years as a coach, the Catalan has established himself as one of the greatest tacticians in the world.
He won two Champions Leagues with Barça in 2009 and 2011 and impressed Europe with his possession game.
The German is gradually starting to take inspiration from the Spaniard in his style and vision of the game.
First meetings in Germany
After four years at Barça, Guardiola settles his suitcases across the Rhine in 2013 at Bayern Munich, while Tuchel is stationed in Mainz.
In 2015, the German took on another dimension by signing for rival Bayern club Borussia Dortmund.
During the 2015-2016 season, the two men will face each other three times.
If Bayern crushes BVB in October 2015 (5-1), Tuchel will face Guardiola in the second leg (0-0) and in the final of the German Cup, which Bayern won on penalties after a draw. and virgin.
Differences that bring them together
Five years after their last clash in Germany, the German and the Spaniard have reunited in England in 2021. Since Tuchel's arrival at Chelsea on January 26, the two teams have faced each other twice and the German has took over Guardiola (1-0 in Cup and 1-2 championship). Fond of the game of possession and increased pressing at the loss of the ball, Tuchel shares with his Spanish colleague, perfectionism and passion for the game. Yet if Guardiola is a follower of 4-3-3 and is an idealist, Tuchel is more pragmatic. Indeed, the former coach of PSG is able to change the system, which he can adapt to the opponent. During his years at BVB, Tuchel could develop the Yellow and Black in 4-1-4-1, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-4-2-1, 3-5-2 or 4-4-2. With Chelsea,the German evolves with three central and a three attack. A system that has largely solidified the defense of the Blues. This final will offer a highly anticipated tactical confrontation between Tuchel and Guardiola. Manchester City will likely have possession and Chelsea will try to hurt against.
Mutual respect
Opposed tonight, the two technicians know each other well.
Guardiola even told this week that he and Tuchel had discussed at length over a dinner in 2014: "I was working at Bayern, and he had organized a dinner in Munich (...) We had talked about football, football, football and football. (…) It's a good souvenir.
Since then, we have grown a lot.
We have a good relationship ”.
Tuchel said he watched Pep's Barça matches a lot, "to learn from him and his teams, how to defend and how to attack".
Ilkay Gündogan, City player, has evolved under the orders of the two coaches: "They are very similar", explained the German midfielder before adding that "they are two great managers, at a very high tactical level.
They are both capable of handling the difficulties they may encounter during a match ”.
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