Thomas Tuchel's damning Bayern Munich comments makes mockery of Nagelsmann axe

27 May 2023 , 11:27

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Thomas Tuchel has struggled since arriving at Bayern Munich

Midway through March Julian Nagelsmann had Bayern Munich on track for the treble - fast forward two months and Thomas Tuchel could end up with no silverware whatsoever.

The Bavarians opted to make a switch in the dugout, ending the young coach's relatively short tenure at the Allianz Arena. Nagelsmann lasted less than two seasons as the hierarchy decided they could upgrade their coach and appointed a Champions League winner in Tuchel.

The German though has struggled to produce with the Bavarians and they now face the prospect of relinquishing the Bundesliga for the first time in a decade. That is on top of exits in Europe and the domestic cup - leading to an unthinkable trophyless season for the aristocrats.

Tuchel's Bayern side lost at home to RB Leipzig last week, opening the door for Borussia Dortmund, who will take a two point lead into the final day. It puts them in pole position to claim the Bundesliga for the first time since 2012 with the former Chelsea boss admitting, whatever happens, that the season is well below expectations.

He said: "It's our own fault, our own responsibility. Of course, we'll try to run the race to the end because we're obliged to give everything to the end.

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"It won't be a season that we can be happy with. It won't be a season in which the number of points is enough for our demands, in which the quality of our game is enough for us. Regardless of how it goes in the end, it won't be a satisfactory season anymore."

Julian Nagelsmann was axed despite Bayern Munich being in the hunt for three trophies (Getty Images)

Tuchel has only won five of the 11 games he's taken charge of - losing four of those. Within a fortnight of his appointment Bayern were beaten at home by Freiburg which ended their hopes of winning the German Cup. A week later they were hammered by Manchester City at the Etihad.

It gave Bayern a near impossible task when they hosted City in the second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final, ultimately losing 4-1 on aggregate. Failure to beat the likes of Mainz and Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga has also allowed Dortmund to take advantage in recent weeks.

Nagelsmann, currently out of a job, delivered the Bundesliga in his first year in charge but he was sacked as the hierarchy at Bayern felt there had not been enough development within the squad and they thought they were going backwards in the Bundesliga.

Bayern's last season without a trophy was the 2011/12 campaign when Jupp Heynckes was in charge - the year before they won the treble with Champions League victory at Wembley.

Samuel Meade