Tuchel: 'Put in all the ingredients'
In the first press conference of the season, Thomas Tuchel looked ahead to the Trophée des Champions against Rennes this Saturday in Shenzhen.
HAPPY MEMORIES
"I don't have to sing this time, that's for sure. Not much has changed from last season except that we have had longer to prepre with more of the squad. Last season was very difficult after the World Cup. But we have developed our understanding, we have our structure. Now we have to work on the details, try new things and rediscover our spirit. But it’s easier now. We have reached a good level and now the challenge is to keep improving."
THE SQUAD
"It's possible that the players that arrived on Saturday can play. I have to wait for training today but they have shown their quality from the first minute. They are in good shape and have worked hard during the holidays. But I have to wait and see how things go today in training before seeing if they can play."
THE NEW SEASON
"We always play with our spirit and we want to win every title we are playing for. That’s what we want but we know that it’s not easy. Rennes want to win tomorrow as well. Our challenge is to always be at our best. To play well, attack fast, close down space, maintain our structure. We have a great chance to win, but we have to do it. Nobody has ever won anything just by talking. We have to put in all the ingredients."
KYLIAN MBAPPE
"Where we play Kylian plays depends, because tomorrow we can’t play Neymar Junior or Draxler who are both suspended. Kylian could play on the wing or maybe Pablo or Angel can play on the left and Kylian could play the No.9. He can play on the left or up front and that’s a real advantage."
NEYMAR JR
"Neymar was great. He was at his best level. If you saw training you saw he was very happy, and played very well. But that’s normal. He loves football, the pitch was great and the temperature was great. Every footballer loves that and he did too. Unfortunately he is suspended for tomorrow, but it’s great to see him back."
PARIS FAVOURITE?
"I don’t believe in favouritism. I want our team to play as well as it can; that is the key for me. That the opposition is superior or inferior or has injured players... that doesn’t interest me."