Bayern axe coach Ancelotti

Paris mauling final straw for Bavarians

Berlin – Bayern Munich have sacked coach Carlo Ancelotti in the wake of their Champions League defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, the club announced yesterday.

“Following an internal analysis in Munich [yesterday]... the club is to part company with head coach Carlo Ancelotti with immediate effect,” Bayern said in a statement on their website.

Former player Willy Sagnol, the ex-France international who had been serving as an assistant to Ancelotti, has been named interim coach.

Pressure had already been building on Ancelotti with Bayern enduring an inconsistent start to the season before losing 3-0 to PSG in the French capital on Wednesday.

After that game the Italian was questioned by German media about his tactics and team selection, following his decision to leave Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Mats Hummels on the bench at kickoff.

“The performance of our team since the start of the season did not meet the expectations we put to them,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

“The game in Paris clearly showed that we had to draw consequences. [Sporting director] Hasan Salihamidzic and I had an open and serious discussion with Carlo today and informed him of our decision.

Bayern are currently third in the Bundesliga table after six games, three points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund, before visiting Hertha Berlin on Sunday.