Announced end as an opportunity?
Tuchel can “be a little more ruthless” at FC Bayern
February 23, 2024, 1:31 p.m
The end has been decided, but the rest of the season still lies ahead at FC Bayern with Thomas Tuchel. The coach sees something positive in the “clarity”. And there is a threat of a little more ruthlessness on the way to potentially two more possible titles.
Thomas Tuchel sees the decision to separate at the end of the season as an opportunity for FC Bayern and for himself. “There is clarity, and clarity brings freedom. Freedom is always good, both for playing and for training,” said the 50-year-old heard. When making decisions, there is no need to consider what “long-term effects” they might have. “I don’t think I’m the only problem, but of course I’m responsible,” said Tuchel, without going into detail. You can “be a little more ruthless.”
“It doesn’t matter whether I have a contract for five weeks or five years, whether it’s highly paid or not. I will do the job with the same energy and not deviate an inch from it,” Tuchel announced on Friday. FC Bayern continues to play “for two titles,” he said before Saturday’s home game against RB Leipzig (6.30 p.m./Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker). The type of performance and results were not right for the German record champions recently. But it is not a clear picture, emphasized Tuchel. “If there was a clear picture and a clear culprit, in this case the coach, then someone else would be at the press conference.”
Tuchel doubts his decision-making power
The Munich team, who are eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen before matchday 23, announced their “amicable” separation this week a year before the end of their contract this summer. FC Bayern wants to undertake “a sporting realignment with a new coach”. “I’m not sure if there was an option for me to decide that,” said Tuchel.
The Tuchel separation in the summer should do two things. A knot should be loosened between the team and coach, which will trigger a sporting turnaround. The focus is particularly on the second leg of the round of 16 in the Champions League on March 5th against Lazio, which is extremely important in terms of sport and finance. You play for maximum success, said Tuchel. A maximum of 18 games left, but for that the Munich team would have to reach the final of the Champions League with Tuchel. An undertaking that currently seems difficult to imagine.
It doesn’t matter whether you can understand the decision, think it’s good or bad. “All that matters is the here and now. These are new circumstances,” said Tuchel. “I never had the feeling that we couldn’t make the team.”