Tuchel reveals demands with positive words over Chelsea extension

James Marshment 19 Apr 2021 10:37 AM

Thomas Tuchel insists he “feels like part of the Chelsea family” amid reports he is already in talks to sign a new and improved deal at Stamford Bridge.

The German has made a dream start to his tenure as Chelsea boss, leading the club into the FA Cup final and the Champions League semi-finals. They also have risen from 10th place to fifth in Tuchel’s tenure, as they eye qualification for next season’s Champions League.

At the heart of their progress has been an incredible improvement in their defence. Chelsea have kept 14 clean sheets in 19 matches since Tuchel took charge. Indeed, the West Brom home blip included, the Blues have conceded just nine goals in those games.

When Tuchel took charge, Chelsea only handed Tuchel an 18-month deal. Fast forward four months, and the German now has little over 12 months remaining.

That progress has seen reports state that talks are already underway over an extension. That will reportedly see Tuchel take home a bigger wage as a reward for Chelsea’s progress. Even so, Tuchel insists the only demands he will make will be on himself – to continue delivering for Chelsea.

Furthermore, Tuchel insists he’s not concerned by the fact he now just has 14 months left to run.

“The point is that I had these concerns [about the length of my contract] and after five, maybe 15 minutes, I said to myself that it changes nothing how many years this contract is,” Tuchel said.

Thomas Tuchel targeting long Chelsea tenure

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel says he has overcome concerns over the length of his contract - an initial 18-month deal - and is determined to prove he is deserving of a longer tenure.

“I demand from myself to deliver, to have an impact and to be the best I can. So this will not change in the future. If I deserve to stay, I am super happy to stay and I will try to stay as long as possible. I feel like a part of the Chelsea family.

“The club feels super professional here, we have unbelievable quality of support, amount of support and we have a team which it is a pleasure to be at the side-line of and to fight with this team, so honestly, I don’t care what it says in my contract. I need to deserve to stay longer.

“If I deserve to stay longer, I will stay longer, no matter what it says. This is what I demand from myself and I feel free at the moment also and I feel good. I am at the right place at the right moment. Everything else will fall into its place when it is there. If I want to stay longer, I deliver week after week.”

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Tuchel eyeing Champions League glory

Leicester City stand in Chelsea’s way in the FA Cup final next month. Meanwhile, their route to the Champions League final depends on their overcoming of Real Madrid in the last four.

Speaking ahead of their meeting with Los Blancos, Tuchel insists the competition is “anyone’s to win”.

“We’re in the competition and in the semi-final it is anyone’s competition,” the German said.

“In the semi-final, you need players fit, you need momentum and you need luck in the games.

“When you look on the scoresheet last week, you saw two players who scored their first goals in the competition (Mount and Chilwell).

“When you look at Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Karim Benzema or Mo Salah score, it is their 50th or 100th goal or something.

“We have arrived with a very young team. We want a young team to turn it around.

“What a young team can do is run, fight and hang in there. It is a big adventure for them and it is a big step to be here.

“It is a very big achievement. You see when Chelsea was last in the semi-final.

“We are not used to being there. Once you are there, you play for the final; this is clear.

“We take every minute to learn and grow. You cannot improve without these experiences so we are doing it now during the process, while we are playing it.

“Yes, it is nice being on the sideline because you see all the effort.”

Thomas Tuchel