Tuchel Insists PSG Job Is Safe Despite Champions League Struggles
Paris Saint Germain manager Thomas Tuchel says he does not fear for his job after the French champions lost their second consecutive Champions League game against RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
PSG failed to recover from last week’s shock home loss to Manchester United, going down 2-1 at the Red Bull Arena despite taking an early lead through Angel Di Maria.
The Argentine international missed a penalty shortly after and Julian Nagelsmann’s men rallied to equalise through former PSG man Christopher Nkunku on the cusp of half time before Emile Forsberg struck the winner for the Germans from the penalty spot right after the break.
PSG finished the game with nine men after Idrissa Gana Gueye and Presnel Kimpembe were sent off.
PSG were also without Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi, and their latest defeat has left them third in the group on three points.
Tuchel, who has recently endured an uneasy relationship with the club’s sporting director Leonardo, is adamant PSG can still make it into the knockout phase of the competition.
He told RMC of the contest: "It was difficult, maybe it's our fault because we didn't score the second goal and we made a mistake on the penalty spot.
"Then it's difficult at 10 [men], there are too many decisive situations against us, it's too much because the opposition is strong.
"No, I don't feel in danger. The situation between Leo and me? It has no impact on the pitch at all.
"We played a team that was leading the Bundesliga a week ago, who are very strong, who play a good game, and we could have led 2-0.
"It was more difficult in the second half; we lack players, quality, pace.
"But the game was very close, and don't forget that the goal difference matters, so if you win [the reverse fixture] 2-1 or 2-0 at the Parc [des Princes], you can go ahead. It's still in our hands.
"I have the impression that the press, the environment is very critical, but that does not change my work with the team, nor with my staff.
"And that won't change anything, it's the life of a trainer in Paris, it's never enough, I don't have any problem. It's the same group that is first in Ligue 1, we are together, there are difficult phases.
"We will try again and if we win at the Parc the situation will be totally reversed."
