Zsolt Lőw: „We are at the highest level”

– “I'm at the best place at the best time,” said Thomas Tuchel after the successful FA Cup semifinal against Manchester City. Do you feel the same as the manager?
– Absolutely – Zsolt Lőw, Chelsea's assistant cocah, said in the interview withNemzeti Sport. – When they contacted us from London, we had to make a quick decision. Moreover, we were in a difficult situation because our careers in Paris had just ended, and I might say, we were not necessarily ready for a new adventure at that time. However, because one of the world's most prestigious clubs called us, we came to the conclusion that we have to say yes. If there is a club worth taking the risk for, then it's Chelsea. It is in Europe's strongest league, the Premier League where the best managers and players are. It's no secret that we wanted to try ourselves at this level.

– It seems like you have found your place.
– Our expectations are confirmed; we got even more than what we hoped for! However, let us not forget that, although we seem to be on the right track, we have not yet achieved our goals.

– To quote Thomas Tuchel again, he said, “We work in fantastic conditions, and the level of support is incredible.” If I am not mistaken, you agree with the "boss" on that, too.
– Completely agree! My first impressions have only intensified since then: we are in an incredibly professional, fantastically built-up club. It is no exaggeration that we are at the highest level of football. We needed a little time to get to know everyone and everything, but we are past that stage now, and I can tell you that we are in the right place. Everyone has his place and role; every position is occupied by well-trained professionals which is why the system works perfectly. In addition, we became part of a friendly, familiar environment, and the players really agreed with our idea and tried their hardest to embrace them. Also, there is reason to hope that the more we work together, the further we go.

– You have thirteen wins, five draws and two losses out of twenty matches played so far. Is it satisfactory?
– Yes, it is. There was a bit of uncertainty in the beginning because we did not know how quickly our plans will be seen on the pitch. From the very first moment we met, we believed we could be on the same page with the club because we have the same football philosophy. So any concerns quickly disappeared into thin air.

– How much do the experiences from Paris help you in London?
– A ton! We had a good productive year at Paris Saint-Germain, and although we missed out on a fairy tale ending, we have very fond memories of that period. The team was made up of stars from Neymar to Kylian Mbappe to Ángel di Maria, and we also learned how to collaboratively work with them. We can use the same technique at Chelsea too where the squad is just as strong. I enjoy talking to the players as I really love that part of my job. I strive to establish not only professional but also personal relationships.

– You landed in London on January 26 when the club was in seventh place. Now, it is in fourth. Given that this position qualifies the team to the Champions League, would you call off the Premier League?
– We came to Chelsea to get the best results possible, and to win as many trophies as possible this season. One of the most important goals is indeed to qualify for the Champions League. We had little chance of that happening in the beginning because we were relatively far from it, but with hard work and dedication, we managed to move up to fourth place in the Premier League. The PL will not be called off because of us, though. However, our fate is now in our hands. If we continue to perform as we have so far, our goals can be achieved.

– You could also win two more trophies...
– It is true that we are in a good position. We are preparing for the Champions League semi-final and the FA Cup final. As I have mentioned, it is an expectation at Chelsea for the team to win again and again, and we are trying to meet that expectation. It is a huge challenge to get the most out of the team, but we are on it!

– You play in Madrid on Tuesday. Are the odds in favor of the Spaniards?
– Real is Real – glorious past, huge international experience, strong team and a brilliant coach. It says everything about the team that has won the tournament three times in five years. I could list their strengths at length, but I hope you will understand if I do not go into details here. We have great respect for Real, but we are not afraid of them, only because there is no reason to. You can win a game or two with luck, but no one advances to the Champions League semi-finals by luck. We have already proven against Atlético Madrid and Porto that we can compete with anyone. While we were still at PSG, we met with Real in the group stage in the 2019-2020 season when we won 3-0 in Paris, then tied in Madrid (2-2). As a matter of fact, we would accept a similar result as well.

– This could mean another Champions League final for the Tuchel staff.
– We are already very proud to have reached the semi-finals twice in two years, so you can believe how we would feel if we could prepare our team for the final again! It is extremely difficult to reach this level and even more challenging to remain at this level. We keep going forward because we are driven by passion. Losing last year's final left us with a mark. On the one hand, we were happy to reach the finals, but on the other hand, we felt sad because we were not the ones to lift the trophy in the end. In any case, we hope that all is not lost that is delayed.

– We have already mentioned that you have played twenty games in three tight months. There are at least nine more to go until the end of the season in May. Can you handle all the hard work?
– We must! The schedule is tight. There is hardly any time to train between games, but anyone who has ever played football knows that playing is always better than training. The staff, on the other hand, does not mind if a training session is needed... In all seriousness, we need to look at every footballer's movement; we have to be careful with their workload. We have reached the last part of the season, and the essential questions will be decided in the upcoming weeks. It will be up to the matches ahead of us whether we are successful or not. We know that success is measured in medals and rankings. Our lives are focused on football right now. Because of the rapid change and the pandemic, my family stayed behind in Paris. The absence of my wife and three daughters is very difficult for me, but what we have achieved so far makes up for the fact that they are not with me. I understand that this is how this period works, and we were signed to achieve results anyway.

– What is necessary for you to lean back on the garden chair by Lake Balaton in the summer?
– To finish in the top four in the league and put at least one trophy in the showcase. We only have one more game to win in the FA Cup. Leicester City is a great team but not invincible. In the Champions League, it would be heroic if we could say goodbye to Real, but as we have talked about it, we are not waiting for that match as if we cannot win. And if we eliminate the Spaniards, we will only have one more game to win...

– All in all, it was a quick decision, but did you make the right choice in January?
– Within the short amount of time we had, we tried to take everything into account. It took a little boldness to say yes, but sometimes you also need to make brave decisions in life. Sometimes you have to come out of your comfort zone to improve, and I think we have taken a step forward since working at Chelsea. Everything is good for now, and it is a treat that it all can be even better. To also answer the question, we made a quick and courageous decision, but the best one possible.

Translated by Vanda Orosz