THOMAS A BIT TUCHY
THOMAS TUCHEL will leave Bayern Munich this summer amid a simmering row.
Former Chelsea boss Tuchel is on Manchester United’s radar as the Old Trafford hierarchy look at potential options with Erik ten Hag’s (below) own future in serious doubt.
But Tuchel, who has already confirmed his exit from the Allianz Arena at the end of the campaign, has become embroiled in an ugly spat with Bayern’s honorary president Uli Hoeness.
Club legend Hoeness accused Tuchel of not having the coaching ability or willingness to improve players in his squad.
Tuchel has already hit back angrily at Hoeness’s claims, while also refusing to get drawn into a fullblown row ahead of their Champions League semifinal.
Bayern boss Tuchel said: “My head is only
Real Madrid, there’s only Real Madrid and so please just focus on the match. I have said what I will say.”
United have always prided themselves on developing homegrown players and the remarks could raise some red flags around Tuchel with current England boss Gareth Southgate their preferred option but he will not be available until after the summer and the Euros.
Bayern fans have gathered a 17,000-name petition calling on Tuchel to stay amid a growing belief that former United interim boss Ralf Rangnick could take temporary charge.
The German giants are faced with the prospect of finishing the season emptyhanded unless they win the Champions League and that has led to Hoeness taking regular barbs at Tuchel.
Hoeness said: “He doesn’t think he can improve a [Alphonso] Davies, [Aleksandar] Pavlovic or [Jamal] Musiala. If it doesn’t work, you should buy someone else. I think you should work hard on them and give them confidence.”
Tuchel previously responded: “It offends me deeply as a coach.
“If we have proven something in the coaching team over the last 15 years, it is that young players – especially from the academy – always have a place with us in training and, through performance, always have a place on the pitch.
“And by the way, we have now proven that! I have very little understanding of it. I find it absolutely baseless!
“This is actually so far away from reality that I wouldn’t have reacted to it at all if it hadn’t come from Uli. “The fact that comes from our boss before Real gives it a different flavour.”