Rangnick reveals reason for Chelsea snub and hails Tuchel

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 1 min read

Ralf Rangnick has revealed why he turned down the chance to replace Frank Lampard as Chelsea manager but has hailed Thomas Tuchel.

Lampard was sacked as Chelsea manager at the end of last month after a disastrous run of form saw the Blues plummet into mid-table of the Premier League.

Former Leipzig coach Rangnick claims that Chelsea wanted to appoint him on an interim basis until the end of the season but he said no.

“I said: ‘I would like to come and work with you, but I can’t do it for four months. I’m not an interim coach,’” Rangnick told The Times.

“To the media and players you would be the ‘four-month manager’, a lame duck, from day one.”

However, Rangnick is a big fan of the man who eventually accepted the job at Stamford Bridge; Thomas Tuchel.

“If you watch Chelsea now you see a mutual plan for when they have the ball or the other team have the ball,’ Rangnick explained. “Thomas is tactically on a very sophisticated level.

“Zsolt Low [Tuchel’s assistant] was my player and assistant coach at Leipzig and plays a vital role in his staff and you can see from the way he interacts with players Thomas also has great leadership skills.

“Appointing him was a top solution. I can only congratulate Thomas and Chelsea for the choice.”

Tuchel has made an outstanding start to his job in west London, winning four of his first five games and taking Chelsea to just one point off the top four – with a game in hand.