First German manager to win FA Cup: Klopp or Tuchel?
History will be made when Liverpool and Chelsea play at the FA Cup. Either Thomas Tuchel or Jurgen Klopp will become the first German manager to win it.
The 2022 Emirates FA Cup between Chelsea and Liverpool kicks off this Saturday, May 14 at 12:45 p.m. ET at Wembley Stadium.
This year makes the first time in the history of the competition that two German managers go head to head. Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp faces Chelsea manager Thomas Tüchel and one will come out victorious, making the first German manager to ever win the trophy.
Both managers had similar journeys from Mainz and Dortmund to English soccer.
| Managing Mainz | Thomas Tuchel | Jurgen Klopp |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 170 | 102 |
| Wins | 65 | 29 |
| Win % | 38.2 | 28.4 |
| Points/Game | 1.41 | 1.13 |
| Managing Dortmund | Thomas Tuchel | Jurgen Klopp |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 68 | 238 |
| Wins | 42 | 133 |
| Win % | 61.8 | 55.9 |
| Points/Game | 2.09 | 1.91 |
Liverpool is in contention to win the quadruple this season and is locked in a fierce Premier League title race with Manchester City. The Reds have won over 100 points from losing positions in the league since Klopp took over - the most of any side in the competition.
“Do I ‘enjoy’ playing against teams coached by Jurgen Klopp?” laughed Tuchel. “It’s not only pure pleasure because they give you a hard time, and of course we’re facing him with a very strong Liverpool team, on a very strong run of results, in brilliant form.”
Tuchel became the first German manager to reach the FA Cup Final when Chelsea played Leicester last season. This season, either Tuchel or Klopp will go one better.
“It’s a big challenge, but it’s a big occasion,” said Tuchel. “We feel competitive regarding our last matches with Liverpool. This is what we want to continue.”