Chelsea
head coach Thomas Tuchel says he does not do anything to be loved by the
dressing room and admits he can be a "shouter".
Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard less than a month ago, has spoken
candidly about his approach to management ahead of Monday's visit of
Newcastle in the Premier League, live on Sky Sports.
The former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss is clear that he
will prioritise honesty over making friends, while always maintaining a
degree of unpredictability.
"Just because I'm trying hard to be kind to you guys [the media], does not
mean that I am trying too hard and that everybody loves me in the dressing
room because this simply does not exist," Tuchel said.
"It is not necessary. But, in a moment where I am happy I can tell them also
that I am happy with their attitude, their performance and the atmosphere in
the dressing room. There is no harm in that, I don't hold it back then.
"Can I be a shouter? Yeah, of course, if it's absolutely necessary. But I
can be totally emotional, and I can also totally be a shouter if I feel this
is the minute to do it and to surprise. If you do it all the time then no
one would listen because it becomes a habit, so everybody gets used to it.
"The goal is also to stay a little bit unpredictable, and most of the time
to be reasonable because, for me, it is important we build a trust and
relationship that we can rely on.
"Player's won't get punished, shouted at or insulted in front of a group,
this is unacceptable. But if we have to point out things clearly I'm a big
friend of doing it in front of the whole group.
"If we have behaviours that harm the group and cause trouble for the team on
the pitch, we should tell the players individually, but I believe strongly
that everybody has to have the personality to swallow criticism in front of
the group.
"That way no harm is done because we can talk openly. To be clear and to be
honest, this will never change. I don't do stuff to be loved by everyone in
the dressing room, this is not possible."
'I miss my family a lot' - Tuchel on
living alone in London
Tuchel was sacked on Christmas Day by PSG, but it was only a month later
that Chelsea came calling, delivering what the German described as "the best
present under the tree".
It has meant some hard decisions for his family in the short-term, however,
with Tuchel living alone in London while his children remain in Paris to
finish the school year.
Coronavirus restrictions mean he is unable to see his family for the next
few months, at least.
"It's not an easy situation, it's impossible to travel at the moment for all
of us," he added.
"Things are well-organised, my kids go to school, but it would be nice if we
could be together. This was the decision and now we have to cope with it
like many other people.
"This is absolutely not easy, and I miss them a lot and like you say
Valentines Day will be a Zoom meeting family-wise, which is pretty sad.
"But we are still privileged, we are safe, and we are healthy, and so I
don't want to complain too much.
"I would like it to be different, but no complaints, we are still healthy
and together as a family - even if there is a distance between us at the
moment."
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