Thomas Tuchel
Thomas, were you frustrated not to get the win today?
“Yeah, a little bit. A little bit. I thought we were very strong on and off the ball, very dominant on the ball, very aggressive off the ball, a lot of ball wins, a lot of deliveries, lot of spaces we found around the box. Unfortunately, we lacked precision around the box and a bit of determination to finish it off early in the match, but also throughout the whole match. Unfortunately, when we had it, we gave it away in one minute. So it started all over again. The reaction was good again so I am very happy with the performance because it was a huge team effort and I think we showed what we need to win on a big stage, a big stadium. On a focus level, a physical impact level, we played with a huge team effort, a lot of quality. Unfortunately, we don’t have what we deserve so we have to live with a point.”
Were you surprised with the ease at which you were able to cut through Manchester United?
“We were very dominant, yes. We found the spaces and fluid. I felt us very self-confident. I was happy with the way we played and I think we found enough spaces, enough moments of acceleration, to take more advantage of it. It felt like a little bit was missing in the last 16 yards of the field to finish it off earlier and be more decisive earlier. We found the spaces very frequently and fluidly.”
It feels like in the last couple of weeks that Kai Havertz’ form has just dipped a little?
“He needs to fight back into his shape. It is like this, I have the same feeling. Hopefully, he shows a reaction. The guys are still young upfront and we will not start pointing fingers because lately, they have been very, very composed and very efficient in front of goal. Against Southampton and in the win at the Bernabeu, we took our chances very well and very precisely. It’s like this. When we look at the data and think about who plays and who does not play, we see a huge amount of intensity and sprints from Kai and Timo (Werner). So they don’t arrive fully, fully fresh at the moment in these matches and that’s why we will always protect them because it’s a team game we play and we demand a lot off the ball to have high recoveries. But I agree, in the last weeks, he had a kind of shape and form that he would’ve put this game to bed for us.”
What is more frustrating, Thomas, only scoring once or conceding at the first time of asking?
“Both are not nice and you are always on the sidelines I have the feeling when we scored hopefully we continue in the same way with the same focus. There is a statistic that says after a goal, it is likely to concede a big chance or have a big chance. Today it was like this. We see it very often in many games. It can happen. It is a piece of individual quality with the pass and where luck is involved because we had the ball twice, minimum one – NG cut out the pass from (Nemanja) Matic and could have started a counter-attack but then we concede. So the reaction was good from that, the stadium woke up immediately and they want to push. But we didn’t allow anything and were still dominant. I am happy also with the response to that, it’s just the result is annoying today.”
Is Cristiano Ronaldo someone that Kai Havertz can look up to? One chance, one goal?
“I think many players can look up to the quality, attitude and career of Ronaldo.”
How do you marry the work rate of the attackers with a decisive edge?
“That is the target to which we work. It’s also for them to adapt, there is still a time of adaptation to the rhythm and schedule. The schedule is ruthless for us and still, it’s the moment that they have to adapt to the league, the physicality, the rhythm, the demands. The boys are still young: Mason (Mount) is still young, Timo is still young, Kai is still young. It will come., they will learn because they are good guys and have the right attitude. It’s not always easy to arrive fully composed and with the biggest ease because we demand a lot off the counter-pressing, attacking with the first line when the opponents wants to play out. So they have a bit of credit.”
Is that the missing link, finding that balance?
“Honestly, I think this is not the decisive link. When I see today Reece James play and we missed him for 12 weeks, I am very impressed we are still in the top three, were so close to reaching another semi-final in the Champions League, and reached finals in both cups because you see the amount of quality that was missing. Today other key players are missing in Mateo Kovacic, who was so decisive at the beginning of the season, same with N’Golo Kante, same with Ben Chilwell. This was the story of the season. The big difference is Man City and Liverpool, in these moments, a full squad available and we struggled with Covid periods and long-term injuries. This is more decisive than the other thing. We had weeks where we were composed and strong and efficient in front of goal.”
Did you feel an edgy atmosphere inside the stadium?
“Yeah, but not for us, for the opponent. It didn’t affect us in our game, it didn’t make it easier for MU. We have our own things around us and our own situation to stay focused and again we were v focused and spot on and that is what we have to concentrate on and continue doing.”
