Chelsea coach Arno Michels has opened up on his relationship with Thomas Tuchel and labelled the German as the ‘funniest guy’.
This comes as the Blues prepare for their final friendly match of pre-season when they face Udinese on Friday night.
Michels has shared a strong working relationship with Chelsea’s head coach, joining him at first as a coach at Mainz.
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This comes after the pair embarked on their UEFA licence with Tuchel before moving to Mainz with him.
Speaking on their relationship to Chelsea’s official website, Michels revealed: “There was a group of about 25 but it was not that you had such a close connection. I would not say that was the start. For me, I would say it was pure luck I got the chance from him.
“He was talking with different coaches when he needed an assistant and he asked me as he knew me.
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"We knew each other but we did not know how it would work, so it was a try.
“My wife was also working in the same town where Thomas became a coach so circumstances were perfect to start together.
"I was completely hungry also to work in the German Bundesliga. It was always a dream.
“We could also try things at Mainz. I would not say we had nothing to lose because it was important for Thomas, it was his first time as head coach of a Bundesliga team, but we were also able to do our work so that we could practise, we could try things, he let us do things, so we could gain experience by doing some things ourselves. It was a very first beginning.”
Michels, who led the team in Tuchel’s absence with Covid-19 last season, revealed that there is something that not many people know about Tuchel, declaring the head coach as one of the funniest people he has met.
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The assistant coach continued to discuss a potential alternative career for the German too, admitting that he could make it big in Hollywood.
He said: “What most people don't see is that he is one of the funniest guys you can ever imagine,” he said.
“He can switch it on like an actor in a role and he can be so smart, and he can laugh about himself.
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"I said once to him that he can be an actor, I could see him acting in films.”
The pair will be hoping to extend their relationship, which has seen them work at four different clubs together.
The Premier League will be in their sights as Chelsea look to compete at the top of the table once again and add to the UEFA Champions League trophy won during their first season at the club.
Topics: Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel, Football
Nick Emms