Image: (APA/AFP/CHRISTOF STACHE)
“It is our duty and our job to ensure sporting success,” said the 53-year-old on Saturday. The change of coach in the middle of the crucial phase of the season is “not a panic reaction,” explained Bayern Munich’s CEO: “It has nothing to do with panic at all.”
The decision to release Nagelsmann on Friday was “well thought out” and not a decision based on emotion. “I know it’s not a popular decision,” said sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. The management felt compelled to act because of the constant fluctuations in performance because “the performance curve is constantly going down”.
The constellation between coach and team no longer fit. “We have one of the best squads in Europe. And yet the team’s performance hasn’t really improved. We can’t be satisfied with the results in the second half of the season and the performances we often showed,” said Kahn. “The last few days have been difficult for all of us. There were also one or two nights when I didn’t really sleep well.” The 35-year-old Nagelsmann is still “an excellent, a very good coach,” as Kahn emphasized.
“We need a top man like that now”
Just like Tuchel, who last coached Chelsea and who will now succeed him. The 49-year-old won the Champions League with the Londoners in 2021 and signed a contract with the German record champions until June 30, 2025. “It’s an honor and a distinction to be asked by FC Bayern,” said Tuchel. “The DNA of the club is very clearly defined. It’s about winning, it’s also about the way of winning. The squad is put together accordingly. It’s one of the most talented and the best squads in Europe. You can fight for any title with this squad play.”
Kahn emphasized that Tuchel had worked with many top stars like Neymar or Kylian Mbappé, for example during his time at Paris Saint-Germain, which was certainly not easy. “We need a top man like that now. He has gained a lot of experience abroad,” said Salihamidzic. The negotiations between the Bayern management and Tuchel began last Tuesday. The timing of Bayern’s request was surprising for Tuchel, the German had expected to continue his coaching career abroad.
Tuchel will play his debut game as Bayern coach next Saturday in a top game against his ex-club and leader of the German Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund. “It’s a huge game that’s coming up, in the constellation it’s even bigger for us. It’s the game in German football, it’s got a new explosiveness due to our deficit and BVB’s run,” said the Bayern coach.
It is important to do everything in the coming weeks to win “all three titles” in the Bundesliga, Champions League and DFB Cup if possible. But the first goal for him is to find a connection to the players. He is aware that not all players are “happy” with a change of coach. “You gain confidence the quickest on the training ground,” said Tuchel. He also commented on the separation from Nagelsmann. “A coaching position only becomes vacant when it has been vacated,” he said of the logic of the football business: “I can understand that it feels very modest for Julian.”
Source: Nachrichten
