How great is the desperation?
Tuchel’s reversal poses major problems for FC Bayern
May 15, 2024, 12:02 p.m
FC Bayern is actually working on restructuring its squad, but without a new coach it is difficult to take a clear direction. The fact that the developments surrounding Thomas Tuchel quickly leak out poses problems for the club. And not only that.
Max Eberl in particular may have been displeased by the fact that the latest turning point in FC Bayern’s “eternal” coaching search became public once again. Normally, the sports director emphasized on Sunday, we talk “behind closed doors. You agree or you don’t agree – and then you part.” The fact that the plans were repeatedly discussed publicly “doesn’t make anything any easier,” said Eberl desperately.
But what is normal at Bayern? Once again there was a leak at the record champions, which punctured the internal considerations surrounding Thomas Tuchel from the supervisory board meeting. Sports director Max Eberl and sports director Christoph Freund are fighting for the coach to stay. It is still far from clear whether the 50-year-old will remain Munich’s coach – despite all statements to the contrary from the management and the doubts of patron Uli Hoeneß. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation about the possible consequences.
Either way, it’s a fine line that Bayern are walking on. Continuing to employ Tuchel, who was announced that he would be retiring in the summer in February, would have far-reaching consequences and raise many questions. For example: How powerful will Tuchel be if he stays?
Due to the rejections of the preferred candidates Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, Ralf Rangnick and, most recently, Oliver Glasner, the Munich team is under a lot of pressure on the vexing coaching question, Tuchel knows that. He could impose conditions in this tense situation. The ongoing demands for a “Holding Six” would certainly come back on the table. It is also questionable how Tuchel would relate to individual players with whom there were problems in the future. Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Matthijs de Ligt, Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano are among them.
Tuchel is reportedly “pondering” “seriously”
The pending status of the coaching question already makes the planned change difficult enough for Eberl and sports director Christoph Freund. They would still “drive the entire squad planning forward in the background,” said Eberl and emphasized: “We have ideas and thoughts.” In addition, only the contracts of Bouna Sarr and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting were expiring, “so the basis is not that bad.” According to “Kicker”, five to seven new players will come. This would only work if one or two other stars left early.
Will Tuchel stay against it, even though he would now be the first solution? He would “ponder seriously,” wrote the SZ. Problem: Tuchel should not be offered a new contract with a term of several years. This would “apparently not be enforceable” in the supervisory board, the “Süddeutsche” continued. Tuchel’s original working paper ran until 2025.
But does he want to be a temporary solution that will then be finally scrapped next year? Questions about questions. As of now, Tuchel is contesting on Saturday (3.30 p.m./Sky and in the live ticker at ntv.de) his farewell game at TSG Hoffenheim. And then? The public will probably find out very quickly what Bayern are planning. Much to Max Eberl’s chagrin.