Chelsea: I’ve always been the collector type – Zsolt Lőw

– Is there still room in the display cabinet?
– I am happy to report that two are already full, but if I have to, I will be happy to buy a third one," replied Zsolt Lőw with a smile. – I have been working as a coach for the tenth year in a row. I have put a lot of time and energy into the work, and the result, thank Goodness, is already showing itself in (the number of) trophies. In Austria, I had great success first at Liefering and then at Red Bull Salzburg. Then as I progressed, I grew to a higher level where the victories weighed even more. What Thomas Tuchel and I started at Paris Saint-Germain, at the highest level of football, we continue that in England with Chelsea, and we are now Champions League and Super Cup winners and Club World Cup champions. For the record, I've always been the collector type. I've been keeping jerseys, cups, and medals since I was a child. I feel like success shouldn't just be a memory in my heart, but if I look at the relics I've received for victories, I want to recall how and where I won them.

– Where did the newest piece of the collection go?
– I group the relics by teams. The gold for the Club World Cup title is on the "London" shelf in its rightful

place: next to the Champions League and Super Cup gold. We've come a long way to get here, but in hindsight, it's obvious that it was worth every moment. We have been working modestly, and this will be no different in the future either. We have been hard workers and will remain so. The memories are nice, but you can't make a living from them. We are focusing on the next task, the league game against Crystal Palace. What happened before and what happens after that don't matter, all that matters is that we must get the three points.

– But it must come to your mind once or twice that Thomas Tuchel and you made history – again.
– It all started at PSG by winning four trophies and reaching the Champions League final in one season. Unfortunately, we lost there, but we can be proud of what we had achieved in our two and a half years in Paris. Just like what we put on the table in London. Chelsea won the Champions League again after nine years but earned the Club World Cup title for the first time. The truth is that being in a club's history book like that is uplifting.

– Speaking of feelings. Tell me, what was your experience at the game semifinal against Al-Hilal (2-0) when you substituted the head coach?
– On the morning of our FA Cup meeting a few days before the game, Thomas had tested positive for the virus, which meant he could not sit on the bench against Plymouth or go to Abu Dhabi with us. We were desperate to hear the news because it's never good for a team to lose its leader. However, we didn't have much time to lament. We had to quickly think about what to do in this situation and then allocate the tasks. Thomas helped where he could, sometimes via video conference or phone. But we, the coaches, had to take care of the matches. On the one hand, this situation was a new test, and on the other hand, it had its allure and charm. The other first-team coach, Arno Michels, and I agreed that he would lead the team against Plymouth, and I would be in charge of the Club World Cup semifinals while hoping that Thomas would arrive for the final. We also had a plan in case he couldn't join us, but fortunately, we didn't have to pull it out. I was also responsible for the press conference leading up to the final, but the head coach could arrive for dinner, so obviously, he was in control from the bench the next day.

– Have you ever had to jump in to substitute the "boss?"
– I've never been a head coach before. As an assistant coach, my work is multifaceted, but it always happens in the background. I don't want to be in the spotlight, I don't like news being written about me. It's enough for the players to know what my job is, what my responsibilities are, what I am capable of, and what I stand for. I had and have my own tasks. I wouldn't have jumped in if that test had been negative. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin in the game against Al-Hilal.

– Do you mean you're going to try yourself as a head coach sooner or later?
– I have been asked this question many times in the past. I've had honorable offers, but I turned them all down. I've experienced a lot of things in Abu Dhabi, and I think my coaching book is already full of them. So, the suggestion is good — but not relevant yet. My family is very important to me, and I see that my wife and three daughters are happy in London. In the meantime, things are going well on the pitch, too. I enjoy the trust of my colleagues and the footballers, and I think it would be foolish on my part to break up this unity... not to mention the existing contract with Chelsea. When we committed last January, we knew we were going to a sensational club, and we knew that our philosophy was a good fit for the team. We hoped that by combining our knowledge, we could achieve great success. Today, we can say that it happened.

– Since you and the team are currently keeping four irons in the fire, success can be even greater...
– It is believed that Chelsea has to fight in every arena to clinch the trophy. We've had quite a lot of challenges, but it is true that now, one follows the other. Next Tuesday is the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Lille, the League Cup final against Liverpool is on Sunday while we will do everything we can to catch up with Manchester City and Pool in the Premier League. Also, let's not forget that we are still in the FA Cup. We're always striving for victory; we'd be the happiest if we were on the top in all four series, but we're down to earth.

– When will your London trophy collection expand?
– I hope it will as soon as possible, perhaps on the day of the aforementioned League Cup final. At the same time, I have realized in recent years that the tempo is so tight that no matter how much you want to, you just can't relax or be happy. The good thing about the display cabinet is that you stop in front of it for a minute. You take a look at it, and you find that you've had unforgettable experiences in a decade. Then you move on.

Translated by Vanda Orosz