Tuchel refuses to comment on Frank Lampard & rubbishes Chelsea motivation claims

The 49-year-old touched down in England with his Bayern Munich squad on Monday evening ahead of Tuesday’s quarter-final first-leg clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Tuchel was sacked as Chelsea manager in September but took over the reins in Bavaria last month, replacing Julian Nagelsmann, with Bayern’s hierarchy hoping he can guide the team to the treble.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are onto their fourth coach of the season after axing Graham Potter, with Lampard placed in charge on a caretaker basis until the end of the campaign – replacing previous interim coach Bruno Saltor – while a thorough search for a new, permanent manager takes place.

Tuchel appeared to aim a little dig at Chelsea’s hierarchy last week following Potter’s dismissal, though he did not want to comment anymore on the west London club ahead of the showdown with City.

Asked for his reaction to Lampard – the manager he replaced at Stamford Bridge back in January 2021 – being brought back to the club, Tuchel shook his head and replied: ‘No.

‘No, no, no. No more Chelsea decisions. I’m wearing a different shirt and I will not comment. Sorry.’

Should Bayern overcome City, they could face Chelsea in the semi-final if the Blues see off Real Madrid, though Tuchel is not thinking that far ahead and insists the nature of his exit has not fired him up anymore to prove his former employers wrong.

Asked if he had any extra motivation to win the Champions League – and perhaps beat Chelsea along the way – Tuchel replied: ‘No, it’s impossible.

‘I can just give my contract back if I’m not highly motivated for tomorrow. This is pure pleasure, pure joy, and a great gift to be part of a match like this, a quarter-final of the Champions League.

‘Listen, Tuesday and Wednesday football is the competition you want to be in. If you are there as a player, or if you have the possibility as a coach, it’s a gift from life and I appreciate it a lot.

‘And it’s an obligation to give my very, very best [in terms of] motivation and input and help and devotion to my players. This is it. There is no more motivation needed.

‘I can tell you I’m happy to be back [in England]. I enjoyed every single day being in England, coaching in England and the Premier League. Happy to be back and be back in this atmosphere.

‘But when the whistle goes there will not be so much of enjoyment or sentimental thoughts, we will then compete until the last whistle.’

MORE : Thomas Tuchel takes dig at Todd Boehly after Graham Potter’s sacking

MORE : Thomas Tuchel backs Sadio Mane to shine after difficult star to life at Bayern Munich

For more stories like this, check our sport page.