Thomas Tuchel recalls that he was undeniably the top choice for the award after leading Chelsea to Champions League victory in the 2020-21 season. When the German publication Sport Bild named its coach of the season, it was clear it had to be him. “Yeah, there was no way out,” the England head coach remarks with a smile. “Because if Jürgen Klopp won at the same time the Charity Shield they give it to him …”
This line reflects Tuchel’s characteristic humor: delivered with a straight face, yet his eyes sparkle with mischief. It’s amusing to envision Klopp’s reaction upon reading it. However, what followed was less humorous for Tuchel. As part of the award, he gave an interview to Sport Bild where he jokingly mentioned he would have “I always need to apologise,” bringing Erling Haaland to Chelsea, envisioning him alongside Romelu Lukaku.
Haaland, then with Borussia Dortmund, was less than pleased with these comments, prompting Tuchel to issue an apology. “They don’t get my humour.” Tuchel admits. “Y’all can kiss my Dallas,”
Tuchel has faced other challenges related to Haaland. During the 2019-20 season, while managing Paris Saint-Germain, he witnessed Haaland score both goals in a 2-1 defeat in the Champions League round of 16’s first leg. PSG eventually turned the tie around, winning 3-2 on aggregate. The following season, while at Bayern Munich, he experienced more frustration as Haaland, now at Manchester City, netted in both legs of their quarter-final clash, leading City to a 4-1 aggregate victory.
With such firsthand knowledge of Haaland’s prowess, Tuchel is preparing for another challenge. Undoubtedly, Haaland is poised to be England’s most formidable opponent as they face Norway in Saturday’s quarter-final in Miami.
Haaland has made a significant impact at the tournament, scoring seven goals in four matches, including two vital strikes that secured Norway’s historic 2-1 win over Brazil in the last 16. This marks Norway’s deepest run in World Cup history. Off the pitch, he has also embraced the experience, enjoying a shopping trip in Dallas where he bought a cowboy hat and boots, coupled with a humorous T-shirt that read, “There are some clear favourites out there and England are one of them,” He shared these moments on social media, embodying a team that approaches the England match with a carefree attitude, ready to embrace the challenge.
Haaland’s lighthearted approach was evident during a recent statement where he expressed his thoughts on the match atmosphere. “So I think all of you [in the media] should put every single pressure on the English lads.” he said. “But internally they know very well how good they are. They proved it. They eliminated a big, big, big nation [in Brazil] on a big stage. And from there on, there is no such thing any more as favourites. “I understand that it’s a bit of a lighter situation [for Norway] and they can ride this wave. But we’re not thinking in this matter and I don’t feel our players are playing with fear. I don’t feel the weight of the shirt. And now we go. No matter who is on the other side, no matter if we are favourites or not or if the pressure is on.”
Tuchel, however, is keen to counter this narrative. “When we stepped out of the plane in Miami, we expected it to feel painful,” he asserts. “Maybe we are still lucky and we get another dark cloud over the stadium and full rain. But the science says that we banked a lot of heat training. We haven’t lost that.”
He added, “We need to spend more time in the opponent’s half. We struggle too much to overcome a high press of the opponent. We need to be better in the deep buildup, in the high press. More connected. “Our identity is not so obvious from a football point of view in this tournament. We struggle. It’s not a matter of commitment. It’s a matter of … we’re a bit stuck in thinking. We are thinking about the pass and then it is already half a second too late. The gap is not there any more. We are a bit overprotecting, overthinking and we need to get rid of that.”
England’s arrival in Miami has brought its own pressures. This match will test their ability to handle the sweltering heat, with temperatures expected to reach 34°C at kick-off. Until now, England has played in air-conditioned venues across Dallas and Atlanta, along with the rainy conditions of Boston, New Jersey, and Mexico City.
Tuchel is optimistic that the warm-weather training he has supervised, particularly the pre-tournament camp in Florida, will benefit the players. It has also been quite warm in Kansas City, where England has been based. “You can’t avoid focusing [on him], for sure not,” Tuchel reflects. “There is so much quality in his moments and you have to make decisions. He will always arrive on the second post so the question is when to make contact with him. “Some defenders like to stay zonal and get the earlier jump. Some like to step back and start fighting with him on the ground, physically – but then he pushes you aside and gets a free header. If you stay zonal he jumps over you. He has all the weapons.”
On a metaphorical level, the heat is palpable. Haaland has intensified the stakes, but there’s no indication that Tuchel or the players will underestimate the challenge ahead. At the same time, supporters anticipate a victory, rooted in world rankings and the perceived strength of the squads. This expectation weighs heavily on England.
Tuchel’s message is clear: it’s time to take off the handbrake. He seeks to liberate the team from the struggles faced throughout the tournament thus far, aiming for the fluidity displayed in their decisive 5-0 qualification victory over Serbia in Belgrade.
Tuchel has given considerable thought to the team’s identity. He wishes for England to embody the best traits of the Premier League while acknowledging their shortcomings. Nevertheless, he seems to have concluded that imprinting the same frameworks that work in club football is unrealistic due to limited time with the players. He questions whether the results truly matter if the defining moments belong to England.
“We need to play better,” Tuchel states. “We need to spend more time in the opponent’s half. We struggle too much to overcome a high press of the opponent. We need to be better in the deep buildup, in the high press. More connected.”
“Our identity is not so obvious from a football point of view in this tournament. We struggle. It’s not a matter of commitment. It’s a matter of … we’re a bit stuck in thinking. We are thinking about the pass and then it is already half a second too late. The gap is not there anymore. We are a bit overprotecting, overthinking and we need to get rid of that.”
Tuchel is willing to accept victory in whatever form it comes. One certainty remains: Haaland must be contained. “You can’t avoid focusing [on him], for sure not,” Tuchel acknowledges. “There is so much quality in his moments and you have to make decisions. He will always arrive on the second post so the question is when to make contact with him.”
“Some defenders like to stay zonal and get the earlier jump. Some like to step back and start fighting with him on the ground, physically – but then he pushes you aside and gets a free header. If you stay zonal he jumps over you. He has all the weapons.”
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