Gus Poyet thinks that Chelsea had his head turned by the availability of Thomas Tuchel, but not generally to assist Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.
“If he was not German it wouldn’t matter that he was coming out of Paris Saint-Germain. I think the German side had a big influence,” Poyet told Stats Perform News.
According to the former Stamford Bridge favourite, thus, Tuchel being a German coach was a central factor in him being quickly chosen as Frank Lampard’s replacement at Chelsea.
However, given the popularity of a high-pressing style made popular in recent seasons by the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Ralph Hassenhuttl and Hansi Flick, Poyet believes a broader trend is at stake.
“I think, with all respect to Tuchel, it plays a very, very important role that he is German,” Poyet said.
“[Now] we need to wait and see you. There is an interesting relationship there with [Chelsea’s ex-PSG captain] Thiago Silva, they know each other from the past and the rest, we’ll see.”
