Tuchel’s special motivation
Help, you lose track at FC Bayern
February 28, 2024, 12:01 p.m
FC Bayern has made two big decisions: the coach is leaving the club, the new leader has arrived. That doesn’t make it quiet. The opposite is the case. Rumors about possible new additions are rampant. And Max Eberl really fuels a heated debate.
Now that a few of the really big things have been clarified at FC Bayern, everything is now open. Sounds weird? But it is like that. It is known that coach Thomas Tuchel has to leave at the end of the season. If further sporting setbacks accumulate, for example in the round of 16 of the Champions League (0-1 deficit after the first leg at Lazio), something could possibly happen sooner. Corresponding rumors persist in the market. What we also know: Max Eberl is the new strong man when it comes to squad composition. With sports director Christoph Freund, who will not be demoted, he wants to rebuild the record champions’ team in the summer. With stars, but also with emerging talent. Jamal Musiala and Mathys Tel are considered role models for potential transfers.
But before things really get down to business, before some players are let go, are sold and do not receive new contracts – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting or Bouna Sarr are the top candidates here – and others are hired, a new man has to be hired for them sideline. Xabi Alonso, the super coach of title favorites Bayer Leverkusen, could be it. At the Werkself they emphasize that the coach should definitely stay. But the word isn’t enough to silence the rumors. On the contrary: Eberl now adds a few more logs to make a real fire out of the embers.
Eberl stokes the coaching fire
The returnee, who played for FC Bayern for 15 years as a footballer from his youth onwards but only made one professional appearance, raved about the conversations he had with the Spaniard almost three years ago at his official introduction on Tuesday he (Eberl) wanted to lure him to Gladbach. Of course, it wasn’t a calming pill for the already nervous transfer journalists. And then he threw in another crumb for the hungry transfer kids. The new trainer should speak German or English. “When it comes to French, it’s a little thinner for me, but that’s not an exclusion criterion,” he said – with Zinédine Zidane in mind?
Erik ten Hag speaks both German and English. They already know him very well in Munich; he looked after the record champions’ second team from 2013 to 2015. And whenever a trainer was looked for, his name popped up again and again. He is currently under contract with Manchester United – and is constantly being criticized. His whereabouts in the summer are by no means certain. In England they are already proclaiming its end. Other names that are now being thrown in: Sebastian Hoeneß (VfB Stuttgart), Roger Schmidt (Benfica Lisbon), José Mourinho (unemployed), Antonio Conte (unemployed), Roberto de Zerbi (Brighton & Hove Albion, also a candidate at Barça) and even Marco Rose (RB Leipzig). It’s wild in Munich.
“Everyone can show up for the new coach”
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel is said to have used the uncertainty in the search for his successor to motivate his stars in Munich for the remaining time together. This is what the “Bild” newspaper reports. “There are no longer discussions every week, everyone knows. We can still achieve something, we have to win. Everyone can now show their support for the new coach,” said the outgoing Tuchel to his team for the rest of the season. And also to the bosses, as Jan-Christian Dreesen made clear in the joint conversation with the team and coach about the separation in the summer. “I told the players emphatically that their personal interests must come second to those of the club and the team,” he revealed to “Sport Bild”. “The most important thing is FC Bayern. The players have to bring the quality onto the pitch, which they undoubtedly have, and they have to feel grabbed by the honor.”
Nothing seems set in stone anymore. Joshua Kimmich is apparently no longer untouchable, neither is Leon Goretzka. According to the “Bild” newspaper, Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman are also under observation and there are increasing reports around Alphonso Davies that he will move to Real Madrid. In principle, the entire team is under scrutiny. Matthijs de Ligt therefore has to prove himself, as do Minjae Kim, Dayot Upamecano, Eric Dier and Sacha Boey. Only Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala should be non-negotiable. There is a wild rumor about youngster Musiala. If Hansi Flick becomes coach at FC Barcelona, which Tuchel could also become, the top talent should move to the Catalans, according to “El Nacional”. God, this is all complicated. Especially since, and now be careful!, Julian Nagelsmann could also become a coach there if it doesn’t take him back to FC Bayern? Which is not impossible.
So, still have capacity for rumors? Then this way: If Davies actually changes, a new left-back is needed. It could be the French international Theo Hernández from AC Milan. This is what the portal “calciomercato.com” claims. The problem is that Lucas’s younger brother, a former professional at FC Bayern, is said to cost 100 million euros. The Scottish Andrew Robertson from Liverpool FC would be cheaper. The Daily Mail brings this into play. Its market value is 35 million euros. Very big things have been clarified and yet almost everything is unclear about the record champions. It’s really weird.