Terror of Thomas Tuchel bomb explosion: Chelsea boss relives Dortmund bus attack in 2017

Thomas Tuchel admits not feeling strangely affected by the bomb explosions that rocked his first Champions League campaign.

“Absolutely surreal,” says the Chelsea head coach, as he returns in April 2017. “Somehow I was happy to help my players and to be with them on the moment, but it didn’t grab me like it grabbed the others, I have to say.

“Yet until today, I don’t feel the danger we were in. I can still see the nails hammered into the bus. I can see the nails sticking where I even sat. And in the middle [of the bus] and at the end and at the front.

“I heard that the nails went beyond 50 meters and then penetrated other windows of houses and other things. Hope it doesn’t come someday, but I don’t think about it when I get on buses or when I walk through a crowd.

‘Somehow not. I don’t expect it. I don’t want that to come. But it was totally surreal and it is until today. ‘

Tuchel, who will lead Chelsea to the Champions League final against Manchester City in Porto, was in charge of Borussia Dortmund at the time.

They were roaming the streets of Dortmund for the first leg of their quarter-final, at home against Monaco, when three homemade bombs, filled with metal bolts and nails, exploded on the road.

Defender Marc Bartra broke a wrist, a police officer sustained inner ear damage and luckily there were no other casualties from the attack. UEFA postponed the game until the next day. Monaco won 3-2.

Sergej Wenergold had tried to profit by destroying the club’s share price. He is serving a 14-year prison sentence, convicted of 28 counts of attempted murder.

“I was in court once to meet the guy,” Tuchel says. “I even felt a little sorry for him. I couldn’t even feel anger, like “wow, what could you have done?”

“My wife is telling the story I wrote to tell her everything was fine and not to worry. I went home to find my agent and my wife. They were pretty freaked out and I walked home a bit like a robot, without talking too much about it.

“I sat in front of the TV watching Barcelona against Juventus. She was like, “this is kinda weird”. The biggest impact for me was the next morning when I saw the players and they were waiting for me in my office. That’s when I really realized… Wow. ‘

He blows his cheeks and exhales slowly. ‘I might be hiding it somewhere. He’s still there, but he hasn’t had the huge impact you might imagine.

Tuchel’s worldly wisdom and eloquence defined his first four months at Chelsea. His impressive beginnings were the work of a man who understands his trade, who has miles on the clock and who shares his experience.

After having marked the spirits in Germany with Mainz and Dortmund, came the brilliance of Paris Saint-Germain. Two and a half years in the company of football megastars like Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, and a demanding Qatari hierarchy.

They reached the Champions League final last year, losing to Bayern Munich, and he’s back with Chelsea. It is the last step in a career grounded in injury disappointment when, at age 25, his own playing career was cut short by a knee injury.

Tuchel studied economics in Stuttgart and found a job at Radio Bar. “It turned out to be a really cool place,” he says, although he admits he doesn’t know much about music and doesn’t like the taste of beer or wine.

He stays away from alcohol during football season, and lets his hair down with a very occasional gin and tonic.

“In the basement they were selling skateboards and there was a huge bar downstairs which was an afternoon cafe and a club on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with music on the first and second floors.

“I had to improve. First, I was a glass collector, I picked up empty glasses and bottles with a huge tray and had to learn to carry it over my head when it was full.

“The next step, because I was safe enough with the tray, I could serve drinks. I would receive them at the bar and take them to the tables, either for free or at double the price depending on my mood.

“Later, after two or two and a half years, I was behind the bar.

Like Tom Cruise in the 1988 movie Cocktail? “Maybe not like Tom Cruise but I felt like Tom Cruise,” he laughs.

‘It taught me a lot. I was that kid who was a little better than the rest at football, who went to Augsburg, so you’re a bit famous, and maybe play for Germany’s under-18s and have a few days off.

‘Then a second division professional, living in this bubble with a lot of attention, positive feedback and self-confidence. Getting out of this bubble was a hard lesson.

“Admitting that I needed to earn some extra money and go to 10 or 12 cafes and bars to ask them if they needed help because I would love to help, that was a pride to swallow . “

Rather than wishing such real-world experiences to young footballers coming out of illustrious academies with lucrative contracts and the world at their feet, he offers them his sympathy.

“You can point the finger and say they should have the same lesson, but they also have their lessons.

“They make so much money, a lot of people like to depend on them and say ‘hey you owe me’ and ‘I’m family’ and ‘I’m your best friend’.

“To constantly understand that and have such enormous pressure and maybe not being able to go out and out at night, as if I had my evenings and my lazy days without being filmed.

“When you were a second division player, it wasn’t life on TV. It’s very, very different. And it is difficult to teach because it remains artificial. I don’t know what would have happened to me if I had earned this amount of money at such a young age.

“We can just hope the academy and parents do. And, of course, we will insist that they stay nice and kind and humble, but it’s not that easy. They also have their lessons to learn. They have to take care of it.

Tuchel only signed an 18-month contract when he arrived at Chelsea in January and yet he feels like a natural fit in a role where few linger.

“It’s very easy,” said the 47-year-old, when asked if he would like to stay longer. “I am so happy to be here. I have never felt this good since being in Mainz and it feels like the perfect place and the perfect time for the perfect place.

“All that will come will come. You can’t force things, but, of course, that’s my point of view and it’s very clear.

In addition to reaching two cup finals and finishing in the Premier League top four, Tuchel has found a pleasant balance in the dressing room, restoring the self-esteem of senior professionals while continuing to develop the graduates of the academy promoted and trusted by its predecessor. Frank Lampard.

“I was brought up very well and protected by my family,” he says. “We have treated everyone equally. I learned from my parents and my mother, who have worked all their lives with disabled and disadvantaged people, that there are no differences.

“I try to treat the young man the same way I treat Neymar. But Neymar also gets different treatment. It’s also okay because he deserves it and he needs it.

“It’s a compromise. The more experienced players may have a closer connection to me, a bit of give and take. With young players, it’s more of a demand. It’s more “hey, I want you to do this”. I can be very tough, very, very demanding.

“I think I have a sensor for that when I cross a line, get too close, too far, I can readjust myself. I am constantly thinking about what I am doing and what I can improve. But I can only do things the way I do them. And I’m not who I am because of my life experiences. ‘