Former Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes has praised Thomas Tuchel’s passion and dedication after Chelsea’s boss was awarded Kicker’s German Coach of the Year award.
Despite only joining the west London club in January of this year, the 47-year-old led Chelsea to the FA Cup final as well as the historic Champions League victory in May, and has deservedly earned recognition for his managerial performances.
Heynckes, who has won the award twice himself, spoke to Kicker about his fellow manager, and had nothing but good things to say about him.
"I have held Thomas in high esteem for many years," he said.
“He is passionate about football. Only with this dedication has he been able to be so successful. He fully deserves the election of coach of the year.
“There are ups and downs in the coaching profession, lows, but in the end the pendulum always strikes the side of whoever deserves it.”
Heynckes isn’t the only German manager to have sung Tuchel’s praises, however, as Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp labelled his now Premier League rival a ‘fantastic manager’ as early as 2019, when Tuchel was managing PSG.
"A fantastic, fantastic manager. You can see really his influence, it has changed a lot their style of play, how they play, different formations and stuff like that," said Klopp, as quoted by Get French Football News.
"I know a lot of people who have worked with him, they all are full of respect for him. You cannot be in the Champions League only because of spending money, that is not how it is.
"You need to have on the pitch a good organisation, because all the others we are not blind.
"We do our job as well and you need to have the right tools in the right moments and Thomas has that.”
All three have been excellent over the course of their careers, and to have received such praise from Heynckes and Klopp show the kind of manager Chelsea have on their books at present.
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