Thomas Tuchel insists he is not afraid of Chelsea’s track record in hiring and firing managers.
But the new Chelsea boss has admitted he needs to ‘improve’ his own reputation for being a difficult figure and falling out with the club hierarchies.
Tuchel, 47, was all smiles and charm embodied as he spoke at length for the first time since taking charge at Stamford Bridge about his philosophy, his ambitions but also the challenges at Chelsea.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has seen 14 managers in his 18 years at the club – including Jose Mourinho on two occasions – and Tuchel comes in with orders to bring them into the top four this season.
When asked if he was concerned about their reputation for firing managers, Tuchel replied, “Yes and no.”
“If you sign up for Chelsea, you sign up for the thirst for titles. You sign up to be competitive in any competitions you play. I am aware of this.
“It doesn’t scare me [to be sacked]. We have big ambitions and I myself have the biggest ambitions. I am excited about the structure of the club. I am absolutely aware that at some point everyone is expecting results, but I expect that of myself.
“Of course, we are doing everything to jump to the first four places. It is absolutely clear. If you do this work at the highest level, if Chelsea calls you, if you decide to go for it, you know what you want. For me it is better to speak it out loud and there is nothing to be afraid of.
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