Thomas Tuchel has revealed how he tries to be a bit unpredictable in a bid to get the best out of his players, ahead of Chelsea’s meeting with Newcastle United on Monday.
The 47-year-old only arrived at Stamford Bridge a few weeks ago following the sacking of Frank Lampard, yet he already looks to have made notable changes, the Blues having won four of their five games in all competitions since he was appointed.
The switch to a back three has already worked wonders, while he’s also re-invigorated the likes of Antonio Rudiger and Marcos Alonso, both of whom looked destined for an exit from the club under Tuchel’s predecessor.
While the Blues haven’t exactly clicked into gear in an attacking sense as yet, they are already looking far more solid defensively, with just one goal conceded under the German thus far.
That solidity has given renewed hope to the club and fanbase, with Chelsea now just a point behind fourth-placed Liverpool and with the chance to leapfrog the stuttering champions with a win against Steve Bruce’s side on Monday evening.
Ahead of that clash, Tuchel has revealed what he’s like in the dressing room, the former Borussia Dortmund boss admitting that he likes to be ‘unpredictable’ in order to to keep his players on their toes.
“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.
“If necessary, I can be totally emotional, I can also be a shouter, to surprise people,” he said. “If I did it all the time, nobody would listen.
“The goal is to stay a bit unpredictable but most of the time to be reasonable because it is important to build trust and a relationship that we can rely on, where you don’t get insulted in front of a group.
“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.”
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