04 February 2024 , 13:38
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Irked Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel has refused to accept Dietmar Hamann's apology after the Liverpool legend misinterpreted his comments about a potential move to Spain.
Hamann viewed Tuchel's compliments about Spanish footballers and La Liga as essentially a pitch to Barcelona, who are searching for a new manager ahead of next season. Many others shared that view, as the Bayern boss was speaking the very next day after Barca manager Xavi announced that he'd leaving the club this summer.
Bayern even released a statement insisting that they'd no longer "accept such non-factual statements" and Hamann, who clashed with Tuchel earlier this season, has apologised - not that it's done him much good. "The things that happened were completely taken out of context and said deliberately," Tuchel is quoted as saying by German outlet Sport1.
"Statements were deliberately made that were not true. I was at a fan meeting and we were all shocked at what he [Hamann] made of it. That's why I don't care if he apologised. I don't buy it and that's why it's irrelevant."
Speaking at a fan event in nearby Heidenheim, the former Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss expressed his desire to one day work in Spain. "Moving abroad would appeal to me again. Spain has an extraordinary league," Tuchel declared.
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"From my perspective, and based on my experience working with Spaniards, they are characterised by a tremendous amount of self-confidence. When you speak with Spanish players, I quickly get the sense that you are engaging with the person."
Those quotes sparked backlash in Germany but Bayern icon Lothar Matthaus doesn't see a problem. "He was asked and gave an honest answer, and I think that answer is fine," Matthaus told Sky Germany. "Should Thomas Tuchel say he will stay at Bayern for life? He's not 80 years old, he's only 50. When I played for Inter [Milan], I also said that I could imagine playing in Spain at some point."
Your turn! Should Thomas Tuchel quit Bayern Munich for Barcelona? Let us know your verdict in the comments section.
Dietmar Hamann initially believed that Thomas Tuchel was making a pitch to replace Xavi (Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)Hamann wasn't so forgiving, though, claiming: "He sits down and talks about Xavi, about the successor and that he would like to train in Barcelona or Spain. That's a disgrace! He (Tuchel) is a very intelligent man, something like that doesn't just slip out of his mouth.
"Only he has to know one thing: If you are an employee of Bayern, taking on the management - that is rarely a good idea. When I look at the last three home games, it's subpar by Bayern Munich's standards. Against three teams that are at the bottom, that's simply not enough."