Thomas Tuchel and Ralf Rangnick go a long way back and with the latter set to take over at Manchester United imminently on an interim basis, the former has lauded his impact for shaping his coaching dreams.
It was Rangnick who coached with Tuchel at SV Ulm before a serious injury ended the current Blues head coach's dreams of becoming a professional footballer.
Tuchel then worked in a bar while studying economics at university and it was Rangnick who coaxed him out of that job and to go into coaching.
The rest is history for the Champions League winning coach Tuchel, who reached 50 games in charge of Chelsea on Wednesday and the 4-0 thumping of Juventus in the Champions League.
Rangnick is believed to be very close to being appointed Manchester United's new interim head coach and will then take on a consultancy role at Old Trafford after United find a permanent manager to replace the axed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was given his marching orders from Old Trafford after a 4-1 defeat to Watford last weekend.
Speaking ahead of the game against United this weekend, Tuchel said of Rangnick: "He helped me a lot, because he was my coach and then he was one of the main figures to convince me to try coaching.
"So he had a huge influence on all of us at this time.
"He showed us that it's not necessary to follow people to the toilet in football games, because that was the belief in these days, that defenders follow strikers wherever they go.
"He showed us it's possible to defend everybody in a zone.
But listen, before I get carried away and talk too much he's not been appointed yet, and let's respect everybody, let's respect Ralf, his decision, the club, and when things are done we can maybe talk about it."
Rangnick is expected to take the Old Trafford job in the coming days but not in time for him to be in the dugout when United visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with Michael Carrick set to remain in charge as the Premier League leaders host the side languishing in eight and have lost four of their last five league games.
