Hurzeler on Tuchel, international breaks and life with Albion

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Luke Nicoli

2024-11-06T06:00+00:00

Fabian Hurzeler's team have taken 16 points from their opening ten Premier League games. 📷 by James Boardman.

Fabian Hurzeler discussed the appointment of Thomas Tuchel, the international breaks and settling into life in his latest in-depth interview for our matchday programme.

Before we talk Albion, what are your thoughts on compatriot Thomas Tuchel becoming the new England coach, Fabian?

I really admire Thomas, although that’s not a secret. He has proven in the past that he’s able to transform a team in a short period of time to winners – and he has a proven record of winning a lot of titles with his teams. I think that’s exactly the challenge you have as a national team coach; you have to build a winning team over a short period and he has achieved that in the past. I really like Thomas; I really look up to him. Given what he’s achieved in the game, he’s a great role model for me and for all young German coaches. I wish him all the best.

What’s the reaction been like in Germany?

Thomas Tuchel will officially become England manager in January 2025. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

It’s obviously made headlines because it’s the first time a German has taken charge of the England team, and there’s the history with the two countries of course, but The FA have made their choice and I’m looking forward to seeing it develop. I think it was Rio Ferdinand who said that for all the bad comments and newspaper headlines he collected following the appointment, he can take them out and show them again when he’s successful. That would be my attitude too.

He will thrive working with some big, big players, won’t he?

In a big national team, especially the England national team, you have world-class players in every position. They’re top, top players, and not just from one to 11 but throughout the squad, and he will always have the players he needs, the players that fit into his style of play, and I’m sure he will really enjoy that. Off the pitch, he also knows how to manage the media, which is an important part of this particular job.

You’re a new coach, with new players, trying to implement your style, so have the international breaks so far?

You accept it as it’s part of the football calendar. Of course, I’d like to use these breaks to work hard on our style of play and improve every part of our game, but we’ve had many players away with their national teams, so it’s difficult. Saying that, it’s a big honour for the players selected, for our club, and if they’ve had a good experience, you know they will come back with plenty of self-confidence, and with trust and belief in their own quality. For example, in the first international break, we had JP making his debut for the Netherlands, while last time Yasin Ayari put in some great performances for Sweden. Carlos Baleba has become a very, very important player for Cameroon, Bart Verbruggen is now always playing for the Netherlands, Mats Wieffer had some minutes against Germany, Jakub Moder for Poland… so I see a lot of advantages from our players being called up.

Let’s talk you. How are you settling into English life?

Jonas Scheuermann alongside Fabian Hurzeler. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

I’ve settled in really well, and the people I came with – Jonas, Max and Marco – are settled in too. We enjoy living here, we have some spots where we like to go, and also the weather has surprised me a little bit – although I’ve heard that the wind and rain will come! I feel comfortable, and I think it’s very important to feel that way because you can then give your best, the maximum. Like on the pitch, moving to a new country is a process and I’m enjoying the experiences that come with that process.

Is there anything in the English culture that you particularly like?

I really like the characteristics of the people here. They are really open, really friendly, and with a good sense of humour. I like that. And I also need that at work, to find that balance. There’s a time to work but there’s also a time to have fun.

Do you get the banter that goes on amongst the players on the training ground?

Yes, and it’s not just from the players, it’s from the staff, everyone. At the end of the day, this should be an environment in which everyone loves to enter because, let’s be honest, we spend a huge amount of time here together – maybe more than with our own families! The training ground has to be an environment where everyone arrives in the morning and enjoys being here. It can’t be, ‘Oh, I have to go to work today.’ That’s not what I want. As a collective, that’s not going to help us achieve our objectives.

Finally, what do you get up to in your spare time? Any sports you like playing?

I like to play padel. I was in Spain and there were so many courts and everyone was playing. But now the hype is growing elsewhere, to Germany and also now in the UK. It’s important to do things like this, to switch off, and you get a connection to other people, other staff members this way. You also see that competitive nature come out – it’s great fun and a great workout!