Bayern pull the plug on Ancelotti

CARLO ANCELOTTI has left his post as coach of Bayern Munich in the wake of the Bundesliga champions’ 3-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

The exit of the 58-yearold Italian, who has also managed Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid, was announced by the Bavarian club yesterday.

He leaves with Bayern third in the Bundesliga after four wins from six games and second behind PSG in Champions League Group B after defeat by the French side in Paris.

Ancelotti had been in charge at Bayern since the summer of 2016.

Assistant coach Willy Sagnol has taken charge of the team, who return to Bundesliga action at Hertha Berlin on Sunday, on an interim basis.

A statement on the club website said Ancelotti had left after “internal analysis” following the defeat to PSG.

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “The performance of our team since the start of the season did not meet the expectations we put to them. The game in Paris clearly showed that we had to draw consequences.

“(Bayern sporting director) Hasan Salihamidzic and I had an open and serious discussion with Carlo today and informed him of our decision.

“I would like to thank Carlo for his co-operation and regret this development. Carlo is my friend and will remain (so), but we had to make a professional decision for FC Bayern.”

Ancelotti came in for fierce criticism after the defeat by PSG in which Bayern had a limited attacking threat in a game which saw Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery start on the bench.

The Italian had reportedly told Bayern board members he had a big money offer to manage in the Chinese Super League.

The board spent lunchtime in an emergency meeting and after that Ancelotti’s exit was announced.