Thomas Tuchel: "We are all very happy to be together again"

If he'd already confided in PSGTV his impatience to get back with his players, speaking in a video call during confinement, Thomas Tuchel now cannot wait to be able to coach his full squad altogether. Now back at the Ooredoo Centre, he had to wait until Thursday to see his Paris players back on the pitch, following a start to the week dedicated to physical and medical tests. A training session in small groups, as the German coach explained. 

TRAINING RESUMES

"I missed them a lot, football too, and it's good to be back together but it's still a little strange as our training sessions are with five or six players, without being able to mix up the groups and train altogether. But it's good for starters, everybody is here and happy to be back on the pitch again. And it's good because we have major objectives with maybe five matches to play and three trophies up for grabs, and we'll start off with two Cup finals. It's a special and unprecedented situation, but we have time to find solutions, and the spirit is good. It had been a long time and it's good for all of us to start up again."

THE PRIORITY

"My priority isn't tactical yet, it's too early for that, and we're training in groups that are too small for that. To start with the priority is human, to rediscover the team spirit and to make the most of being back together. That's the first thing. We wouldn't be able to win a final if we played it now but we could lose a final if we try to do much now. We must be patient and think about the physical condition of the players, because it's completely different to train at home, running a lot for example, and being on the pitch. It's time to get the sensations back with the boots on, the pitches, the ball. We need to be calm, but not too calm (laughs). I hope that next week we'll be able to train with a group of 10 to get closer to having a team." 

HAPPINESS OF BEING BACK TOGETHER

"When I spoke with the players during confinement they all told me the same thing. It was good to have calm and time with the family... But that after a few weeks it became too long away and they were missing football, me too. That's why we're all very happy to be back together again, to be able to laugh, play together and train together."

PHYSICAL CONDITION (press conference quote)

"We want to be in the best possible condition in order to win the two domestic Cup finals we still have to play, and then we'll still have two weeks before the Champions League returns. We have time to think about it and get ready for it. Our first objective is to win the two Cup finals, but we must adapt and find solutions. It's an unprecedented situation we have lived through, and it's our job to find solutions."

THE LEAGUE ENDING (press conference quote)

"We lived through a bizarre and unprecedented situation and I can't be angry with the decision to halt the league season. The health of everybody is the most important thing. The government made the decision and it's not for me to judge that decision, it was a decision for the society. That's the way it is and now we must be creative in order to get to August and to be able to perform well."