Matthäus: Bayern bosses 'certainly' discussing future of coach Tuchel

DPA
·2 min read
Sky expert Lothar Matthaeus is pictured before the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Cologne and Eintracht Frankfurt at RheinEnergieStadion. Former Bayern Munich captain Lothar Matthaeus believes that club bosses are discussing the future of coach Thomas Tuchel after the latest setback in the form of a crushing 3-0 defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa
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Former Bayern Munich captain Lothar Matthäus believes that club bosses are discussing the future of coach Thomas Tuchel after the latest setback in the form of a crushing 3-0 defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

Matthäus said in his Sky TV column on Moday "it would be no surprise" after Saturday's game if Tuchel's job was at stake.

"It will certainly be discussed internally. It even has to be. Anything else would not be Bayern-like," the 1990 World Cup winner and record German international said.

Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen had dismissed a coaching debate at the club after the game which saw 11-times reigning champions Bayern slip five points behind unbeaten leaders Leverkusen.

Matthäus joined those who said that Tuchel had chosen the wrong players and tactics in Leverkusen.

"I was very surprised that Bayern did without the stars with Bayern DNA in the game, of all games. In Tuchel's place, I would have favoured [Matthijs] de Ligt, [Joshua] Kimmich and [Thomas] Müller, especially in Leverkusen," he said.

Midfielder Kimmich and forward Müller came on in the 60th minute when Leverkusen were already two goals up, while defender De Ligt was an unused substitute.

Looking at the tactics, Matthäus said: "Bayern have been playing with a back four for a year now and when the team needs security the most, they switch to a back three.

"To make matters worse, it included [Sacha] Boey, who was bought exclusively as a right-back and was then supposed to work his magic as a left-back on Saturday," Matthäus said.

He said that Tuchel had "gone all-in and gambled away", and that despite 13 games still to play "I'm sure Leverkusen will now be German champions and if they keep playing like this, they'll more than deserve it."

He said there was too much unrest overall in Munich, where Tuchel replaced Julian Nagelsmann 11 months ago, and CEO Oliver Kahn and board member Hasan Salihamidzic had to go in summer.

"In general, everything has been far too unsettled at this club for far too long. And you can see the results on the pitch. And this regularly, for many, many months," Matthäus said.