Home » Tennis » “It’s the same for tennis” – Thomas Tuchel uses Roger Federer analogy after Champions League elimination last year

Paris Saint-Germain were knocked out by Manchester United in extraordinary circumstances in the Champions League last year

PSG manager Thomas Tuchel spoke about Roger Federer and compared that with how his team have been unable to win the Champions League.

Tuchel is one of the greatest managers in the French League but hasn’t been able to take Paris Saint-Germain all the way to the Champions League title.

That has been the aim for the Paris giants ever since Qatar Sports Investments took over in 2011, but they have always failed in the knockout stages.

Thomas Tuchel Kylian Mbappe
Thomas Tuchel with Kylian Mbappe during a Ligue 1 game (AFP)

PSG have some of the best attackers in the world with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar leading their charge, but it never seems to be enough for them.

Last season, they were knocked out by Manchester United with a last-minute penalty kick, but Tuchel took that in his stride.

The German was speaking about the exit and claimed it is similar to Roger Federer’s case in tennis.

The Swiss ace is seen as the champion before any tournament but others have won it too (h/t Sportstar):

“You have to accept the context. I said after [being eliminated by] Manchester United, ‘guys, we will try again next year’.

“The group stage, the last 16, that’s how it is. It’s the same for tennis. Everyone thinks that Roger Federer has always won, but it’s not like that.”

Tuchel added that he was confident of the team doing well this season and highlighted that they lost previous games against top sides due to some mistakes they made:

“We can also say that it is our fault, with the matches against Barcelona and Man United. We lost these matches there and we cannot wait for everyone to be super positive.”

Tuchel goes up against his former club Borussia Dortmund in the first knockout round, and it will be interesting to see how things go for him.

Federer still leading the Grand Slam race

The Swiss might be 38 but he still has more Grand Slams than any other player on the circuit.

Rafael Nadal is second with 19 and could tie Federer if the Spaniard wins the French Open next.

Roger Federer Novak Djokovic Australian Open 2020
Roger Federer talking to the media after his semifinal loss against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open. (Getty Images)

However, Federer still has some juice left in him and reached the semi-final of the 2020 Australian Open.

He was knocked out by eventual winner Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. Federer is still one of the best in the world and could win a couple more Grand Slams, and it will be interesting to see how the rest of the season goes for him and PSG.

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