No immediate separation
Bayern boss describes Tuchel rumor as “nonsense”
February 26, 2024, 9:33 a.m
Should Thomas Tuchel leave FC Bayern immediately? The separation at the end of the season has been decided, CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen rejects further rumors. Details from the conversation with Tuchel remain secret.
According to CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, a quick separation from coach Thomas Tuchel was not an issue for FC Bayern Munich. “We have decided – as described in the press release – to separate amicably in the summer. Everything else – such as the alleged offer to separate immediately – is nonsense,” Dreesen told “Bild”. There had previously been speculation that the German football record champion had offered his current coach a quick farewell.
“It was a one-on-one conversation, the content of which is not intended for the public. That’s why I don’t want to go into details,” Dreesen continued. The 56-year-old met Tuchel, who is six years his junior, for lunch on Tuesday. “It was about many things, not just the early separation in the summer: how he sees his situation, how he assesses the team, just the analysis that Thomas also spoke about,” said Dreesen: “I have him too explained my perspective. Together we created clarity.”
“There is no one to blame”
On Wednesday, Bayern announced their departure from Tuchel after the current season. It is not yet clear who will look after the team after the summer break. Spanish ex-professional Xabi Alonso from current league leaders Bayer Leverkusen is being discussed as the preferred candidate. Dreesen did not want to comment on the names of possible candidates. “It makes no sense to speculate about the new coach now,” he said: “We have to look at every good coach and then hopefully find the best one for us that we can get in the summer.”
Together with Tuchel, FC Bayern wants to achieve something by the summer. “I made the players responsible because there is no one to blame in this situation,” said Dreesen and formulated a specific goal: “With a view to the Champions League: We definitely want to reach the quarter-finals in the second leg against Lazio Rome.” Bayern are eight points behind Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and have already been eliminated from the DFB Cup. The first titleless season in twelve years is looming.