Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has revealed that Thomas Tuchel is the reason he stayed with the Bundesliga club this season.
After struggling with his form last term, the Armenian was reportedly considering a move away from Westphalia in the summer.
Italian champions Juventus were one of the clubs interested in signing the former Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker, but a chat with Tuchel was enough for Mkhitaryan to know he was in the right place in Dortmund.
"I met him for the first time in March and he convinced me to stay," Mkhitaryan told Deutsche Welle.
"I wanted to stay also, because I had some things to prove to the people, to show that I deserve to be here.
"That's why I am trying to stay this year also, to show all my qualities in helping the team to win a lot of games."
The 27-year-old has produced some of his best form this season with six goals and 11 assists in 16 Bundesliga games.
He credits Tuchel with that improvement in form.
"I'm very happy that I have the chance to work with him. Because really, from the first talk we had he told me that 'Miki, I can bring you to a level of high class'," Mkhitaryan said.
"At one point I doubted it because I was not really confident that after a bad season he could make me a high-class player. But he did it and I'm thankful to him.
"He just gives you the confidence you need and he lets you to do what you can do. And that's the whole reason that all the team's players are all shining this year."
