China tour Q&A with Thomas Tuchel

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Before heading to Shenzhen, the Rouge et Bleu coach answered a few questions about his hopes for the visit

Q: Are you pleased to be back in China for Paris Saint-Germain’s Summer tour?

A: It’s a real pleasure, most definitely! We visited China just last year and it’s a beautiful country. I’m delighted to be back in Shenzhen and to visit Macau and Suzhou for the first time. Our growing army of Chinese fans are very passionate, and I’m thrilled to see them again. On a personal level, I won my first trophy as a Paris Saint-Germain coach here in China, in last year’s Trophée des Champions, which is will always remain a great memory for the club and for myself.

 

Q: What are the main objectives of the Summer tour?

A: There are a few. First and foremost, we’re here to continue to pick up the pace of our preparations for the new season, having put in two weeks of intensive work at the Ooredoo Centre. Our players are going to step up and test themselves against Inter Milan and Sydney FC, with some of them seeing their first action of the season. And, of course, the main objective is to win the Trophée des Champions. The players are competitors and it’s a trophy we’re very fond of. It’s vital that we go and attack with real intent and start off the season to a real flyer.

 

Q: What advice would you give to any young Chinese player who wants to play for Paris Saint-Germain?

A: In football, it all comes down to hard work. You have to train a lot, always strive for more, and pick yourself up when you fall. The other piece of advice I’d give is always believe in your dreams. Being a Paris Saint-Germain player is the best job in the world.

 

On the second day of the tour, Coach Tuchel paid a visit alongside Kevin Trapp and Abdou Diallo to the Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital. You can read about the visit here.