‘It’s Azpi, not Azpli!’: New Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel gets Cesar Azpilicueta’s nickname wrong before Christian Pulisic hurries over to correct him during Wolves draw
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New Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has a familiar face in the dressing room in the form of Christian Pulisic after the pair worked together at Borussia Dortmund a few years ago.
And it seems the American is only too keen to help the new boss out – especially when it comes to avoiding embarrassing nickname mix-ups.
Just before the start of the second half in Wednesday night’s goalless draw with Wolves, Tuchel stood on the touchline and called captain Cesar Azpilicueta over to issue some instructions.
New Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel issues instructions to captain Cesar Azpilicueta
Tuchel was keen to get a point across to the defender before the start of the second half
But Tuchel had shouted ‘Azpli’ rather than Azpilicueta’s actual nickname of ‘Azpi’ – something Christian Pulisic quickly corrected him on
But the German coach was yelling ‘Azpli, Azpli’ instead of the defender’s actual nickname ‘Azpi’.
That’s understandable given Tuchel only had 24 hours to get the know his new players and take just one training session after being appointed as Frank Lampard’s successor on Monday night.
Fortunately, Pulisic, who came on as a substitute later, was on hand to ensure Tuchel and Azpilicueta didn’t get off on the wrong foot.
Television camera captured a smiling Pulisic explaining to Tuchel that Azpilicueta’s nickname was ‘Azpi’ not ‘Azpli’ – a correction the coach later admitted he was grateful for.
Speaking about Pulisic after the match, Tuchel said: ‘Christian, for sure, I know very well what he is capable of. He had a big, big input.
Before the start of the second-half, Tuchel stood shouting ‘Azpli’ to get Azpilicueta’s attention
Azpilicueta jogged over to listen to Tuchel’s tactical instructions before the restart
As Tuchel returned to the dug-out, substitute Christian Pulisic rushed across to intercept him
The American was spotted by the TV camera explaining to Tuchel it was ‘Azpi’ and not ‘Azpli’
‘It was an unfair decision today for him to not start. I told him it was only because I know what you can bring from the bench because I know you.
‘I don’t know the others and am not sure what the others can do from the bench, but you are a player who can start for us and can absolutely change things for us from the bench. He did amazing.
‘And at half time he told me, “Hey coach, you pronounced the name wrong for Azpi!” He helped me with that.
‘Maybe that was a big help and that is why we love him.’
It was Tuchel who gave American Pulisic his big breakthrough when at Borussia Dortmund
Tuchel plucked the exciting teenage winger out of the youth ranks and into the first team
Pulisic wasn’t able to make an impact from the bench this time as the match at Stamford Bridge ended goalless, leaving Chelsea eighth in the table and five points off the top four.
It was Tuchel who promoted Pulisic from the Dortmund youth ranks as a raw 17-year-old and handed him his first-team debut against Ingolstadt in January 2016.
Pulisic went on to nail down a regular place in Tuchel’s side and won the German Cup in 2017 shortly before Tuchel left the club.
He had started the last seven Premier League games under Lampard having overcome injury issues earlier in the season.
Chelsea host Burnley on Sunday in Tuchel’s second match in charge.
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