Bayern confirmed the appointment of ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel on Saturday as they sacked Julian Nagelsmann just 2 days before they unveiled the former. The German club’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic spoke to the media after the club’s official announcement about sacking Naglesmann and said, “Of course there were a problems and we had a few discipline issues.”
Tuchel has been enjoying his time off football ever since his departure from Chelsea in mid-September after just 10 games in the Premier League with the new owners deeming him to be unfit for the long term. The sacking was definitely a bizarre move as the fans were disappointed, he had won 3 trophies in 2 seasons prior to that season while also lifting the Champions League and making 2 FA Cup finals despite losing both.
The German has come back to bite the Blues as he publicly expressed his desire to poach their current assistant coach Anthony Barry during his unveiling press conference. Tuchel said, “My coaching staff wasn’t prepared either, so a big thank you to their families for their flexibility. Arno Michels and Zsolt Low, who have been working with me for over ten years, will be there. We’re hoping to add Anthony Barry, who is currently at Chelsea.”
According to Matt Law of the Telegraph, the comments made by Tuchel publicly expressing his wish to reunite with Barry hasn’t gone down well with the owners who consider it to be “disrespectful”. Barry has been asked to stay away from training for the time being as Bayern Munich have made their approach with a compensation fee for the coach even though the Blues consider the initial offer to be well below their expectations.
With Barry also reportedly keen on reuniting with Tuchel with whom he went on to win a Champions League and UEFA Super Cup winners medal, it looks likely the two clubs will reach an agreement for the English coach who joined the Blues in 2020 when Frank Lampard was in charge.
For those who don’t know, Anthony Barry is the set-piece coach at Chelsea – someone Tuchel has time and again really appreciated in interviews.
Graham Potter inherited Barry as the only coach from Tuchel’s backroom staff when the 48-year-old took over from his German predecessor in September and would not have any concerns with the departure even though with just 2 months for the season to end, the timing of the move may not go down well with Potter particularly because of the Champions League quarter-finals approaching.
Though the two sides may meet in the semi-finals having been drawn on the same side of the draw on the way to the final, it looks like Thomas Tuchel will be successful in raiding his former employers with reports emerging he is also interested in signing Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic after the Barry coup with the duo entering the final 12 months of their contract. Both Mount and Kovacic were crucial first-team players under the German and were even the dressing-room leaders for the Blues.
Speaking after being sacked by the Blues, Tuchel said, “Yes, I am upset and I am sad because I think my job at Chelsea was not finished.” Maybe he might complete his unfinished business at the club by luring away not only their players but coach also. Certainly an entertaining watch for the fans who might be missing club football in this international break.
