Crisp start at FC Bayern
What Tuchel dislikes about Eberl taking office
February 29, 2024, 6:39 p.m
After the motivating inaugural speech by the new sports director Max Eberl, coach Thomas Tuchel is displeased that the “organizational chart” at FC Bayern is changing again. One thing is certain for him personally.
Thomas Tuchel did not further fuel the spirit of optimism announced by Max Eberl. “We’ll see what effect this has,” commented the Bayern coach quite coolly when asked about the short-term impact of the new strong man in Munich, who will be watching from the stands in the future. Euphoria works differently. “It is still the third time in ten months that we have rewritten the organizational chart,” said Tuchel. Without consequences for him directly. “I think that I am, was and remain responsible for the lineup. Knowing Max, that won’t change,” said the 50-year-old.
On the day before FC Bayern’s 2000th Bundesliga game, when Eberl introduced himself to the team and support staff, Tuchel, who was leaving at the end of the season, felt that the new change in management was “not without”. Nevertheless one will on Friday (8.30 p.m./DAZN and in the ntv.de live ticker) At SC Freiburg “remain the complete focus on the sport and the game,” assured Tuchel. In May, the club parted ways with Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidžić. Sports director Christoph Freund was added in September.
“We expect Max’s full support and have been promised it. We will fight the three months with great enthusiasm and undiminished passion,” said Tuchel, who has to worry about the participation of the ailing Leroy Sané. The coach has already decided that Joshua Kimmich will play as a right-back again in Breisgau.
Eberl wants to see “soul and heart”.
Eberl was hired as sports director this week and emphasized his title hopes for a “great farewell” to Tuchel. The 50-year-old wants to see from the professionals “how much soul and heart” they are willing to give in this so far disappointing season. This initially applies to Freiburg, but of course also to the second leg of the round of 16 against Lazio on Tuesday, when the Munich team has to make up for a 0-1 defeat. The ensemble’s performances will also influence Eberl’s planning calculations. So some stars are initially playing on probation. “I didn’t see it because it was training and I didn’t read it either,” said Tuchel when asked about the announcement of his new “football board”.
The euphoria this week was greater for Eberl, who was signed until 2027, than for Tuchel, who was leaving at the end of the season. As at RB Leipzig, Eberl will watch from the stands and not from the bench as an opinionated club representative as in Gladbach as his FC Bayern starts the attack from the “hunter role” on the previously outstanding Bayer Leverkusen and the further premier class path. “We have to keep going. We have to have a good series from now until the end,” said goalscorer Harry Kane.
Tuchel: The negative spiral has stopped
In the long-distance duel with Leverkusen, who have pulled ahead on eight points, the Munich team will be ahead on the next three matchdays. In this way, they can possibly increase the pressure on coach and Bayern candidate Xabi Alonso’s Werkself, which will be challenged against 1. FC Köln on Saturday. “It’s important to step up. We’ve managed a small turnaround and stopped the negative spiral,” said Tuchel. “I think it gave us energy.”
Tuchel left it open whether Sané would be able to be there after his patellar tendon problems in his knee. “He’s really someone who can tolerate pain incredibly well,” said Tuchel. But at the moment the pain is too great and the winger is not free. Alphonso Davies is back. On the other hand, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, Sacha Boey and Noussair Mazraoui are also missing in Freiburg. Minjae Kim will play in central defense for the suspended Matthijs de Ligt.