Thomas Tuchel the manager of Chelsea celebrates with N'Golo Kante after the Premier League match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on March 04, 2021 in Liverpool, England.
Thomas Tuchel has admitted he has been taken aback by N’Golo Kante’s extraordinary work rate since taking over at Chelsea five weeks ago.
Tuchel has already masterminded victories over celebrated managers Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone since replacing Frank Lampard in west London.
The Blues were languishing down in ninth place when the German took charge – just five weeks later they are fourth in the table and three points shy of third-placed Leicester.
Match highlights 📲👇
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 5, 2021
After a performance like that, why not watch and enjoy the best bits all over again 😉 #LIVCHE pic.twitter.com/liIqRjHSG7
Upon arrival at Stamford Bridge, Tuchel expressed his excitement at working with Kante and revealed he tried to sign him when he was at Paris Saint-Germain.
And the German tactician admitted it was a dream come true to work with the World Cup winner, who he said was like ‘two players’ on the pitch in the victory over Liverpool.
“It was clear from the first second of training what this guy is capable of doing,” Tuchel told reporters ahead of the visit of Everton on Monday. “It’s unbelievable.
“You see his intensity in the physical report after matches and you think they may have tracked two players and put it into the same sheet. He’s unbelievable in what he delivers in terms of intensity, in terms of ball recoveries, his devotion to the group is world-class, at the highest level.
“I am very, very happy he is in our squad. He has come back from an injury so he will not play every 90 minutes before the international break. We will manage him and we do that with the physical coaches.
“We have to take care that he is fit until the international break and when he comes back, we hope he has the momentum where we can rely on him in every game.
“I’m very happy to have him, Jorginho and Kova (Mateo Kovacic) in defensive midfield. This is exactly the level we need to win games. So, I am super happy with all of them.”
Tuchel has refused to take credit for Chelsea’s resurgence after Thursday’s impressive victory over Liverpool, instead insisting the players must receive the plaudits.
Asked to explain his role in Chelsea’s revival, Tuchel replied: “I am flattered but I will just give the flowers to the players and to the club.
“It is proven that Chelsea is an organisation and a club that has everything that you need to be successful as a coach and as a football team, so now it is my job to bring out the very best of myself, together with the team.
“There is no other way to express myself than with team performances.”
