Football
Mark Rodden 9y

Dortmund's Thomas Tuchel dislikes Pep Guardiola comparison

Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel said that he has yet to discuss his new job with predecessor Jurgen Klopp and discouraged comparisons to Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola.

Tuchel, 41, took over as Dortmund boss this summer after Klopp, 48, stepped down after seven years in charge.

Klopp became a legendary figure at Dortmund after leading them to two Bundesliga titles and to the 2013 Champions League final. Tuchel, who like Klopp is also a former Mainz manager, was announced as his successor in April. But Tuchel says the two men did not meet to talk about the challenge ahead.

"I didn't want to do it during the season," he told Bild. "So we only had contact by text message.

"And then it was also a conscious decision to go in by myself first and to get a picture of things for myself.

"But I definitely still would like to catch up. I hope to have a very relaxed meeting and relationship."

Tuchel has been likened to Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola but it's not a comparison he encourages.

"That's a great danger and I really don't like it," he said. "The thing that always worries me -- if it was said often enough -- is that it implies that I'd love to be like Pep. But it's not like that at all.

"As a football fan and as a coach, I really admired Pep's work in Barcelona. But from this admiration there won't be a copy or clone of Pep. It wouldn't work to copy his coaching.

"When you coach differently and respond differently, then something different also comes out of it. I'm confident about the path I'm taking. Other people make comparisons."

Tuchel also explained why he limited himself to saying that Dortmund should be a challenger for the top four this season.

"After the difficult season that BVB had, I thought it was appropriate not to talk big straightaway," he told Bild.

"We want to let the players settle down, keeping their feet on the ground and not confronting them with the next pressure situation. We have some catching up to do but everything comes in small steps."

A big early decision for Tuchel is to decide who his No. 1 goalkeeper will be.

Dortmund have signed Roman Burki from Freiburg but let go Australian netminder Mitchell Langerak, leaving Burki and veteran Roman Weidenfeller to fight it out for the starting position.

Swiss international Burki, 24, is relishing the competition.

"I knew that was awaiting me," he told Dortmund's official website. When I signed the contract here, it wasn't clear to me who'd be the No. 1 keeper -- especially as Mitch Langerak was still there.

"Roman Weidenfeller has done a lot for the club. I'll try to give my best. Ultimately it's the coach who decides who plays between the sticks.

"Roman has taken on near legendary status at BVB," Burki continued. "I have a great deal of respect for him. He has won titles that I will probably never get my hands on. I believe I can learn a lot from him.

"We have a very cooperative and sporting relationship. But on the pitch we are all equal and have to put in performances. If I don't provide them, there'll be no place for me in the team."

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