5 best midfielders to have played under Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel is one of the best coaches in world football right now. He led Chelsea to Champions League glory just a few months after taking charge of the club in early 2021. Tuchel was named the 2020-21 UEFA Men's Coach of the Year.
Most recently, Tuchel was named the Best FIFA Football Coach of 2021 as well. The 48 year old has managed five clubs in his career so far, namely FC Augsburg II, Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
Thomas Tuchel has coached some incredible midfielders
Tuchel has a reputation for improving players and he has been particularly good at getting the best out of his midfielders. He has worked with some of the best midfielders in the game over the course of his stints with Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and now Chelsea.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best midfielders to have played under Thomas Tuchel.
#5 Mason Mount
Mason Mount is one of the most exciting midfielders in the Premier League. Thomas Tuchel's arrival came at the right time for Mount. The Englishman had impressed former manager Frank Lampard during their time together at Derby County and broke into the senior setup under him at Chelsea.
Mount has been far more enterprising under Tuchel than he was under the previous manager. He looks eager to get into areas where he can score or assist or affect the game in any manner. The Englishman was selected as Chelsea's Player of the Year in 2021.
Mount was a standout performer for Chelsea as they won the Champions League last season. In 59 appearances across all competitions under Thomas Tuchel, he has scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists.
Mason Mount has been named Chelsea's 2020-21 Men’s Player of the Year 🏆
Well deserved 👏 https://t.co/RdXLbMSuPe
#4 Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Thomas Tuchel was appointed as the manager at Borussia Dortmund at the end of the 2014-15 season. Dortmund had just finished seventh in the Bundesliga table and were in desperate need of a shift in their fortunes. Tuchel immediately started getting the best out of several players but none more so than Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Speaking about his relationship with Tuchel, Mkhitaryan said:
"He [Thomas Tuchel] told me in our very first conversation that he could lift me to a world-class level.
"At first, I didn’t necessarily believe him but he’s been true to his word and I’m thankful for that. He gives you the confidence you need. He talks a lot with the players and gives good advice. I’m really happy to be working alongside him."
The Armenian international finished as the top assist provider in Europe that season. He was simply unstoppable under Tuchel and was chosen as the Bundesliga Players' Player of the Season.
He scored 23 goals and provided an incredible 32 assists in 53 appearances across all competitions for Dortmund in the 2015-16 season. Mkhitaryan then earned a move to Manchester United at the end of the campaign.
Thomas Tuchel (Borussia Dortmund manager): “I was disappointed to see him go. I'm a huge fan of Mkhitaryan." #MUFC https://t.co/e1WTjBxezH