Matthäus criticizes Bayern coach Tuchel's man management

Top German football pundit Lothar Matthäus has criticized Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel's man management following the surprise 1-0 home loss to Werder Bremen on Sunday.

Champions Bayern slipped seven points behind unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen but can claw back three points in a rearranged game at home to Union Berlin on Wendnesday.

"You should discuss things more clearly internally and not talk so much in public, but that's how Tuchel weakens his strong players, his players with great mentality like Kimmich and Goretzka," Matthäus wrote in his Sky column.

Joshua Kimmich admitted to being upset at being substituted against Bremen, with fellow midfielder Leon Goretzka and veteran stalwart Thomas Müller only on the bench.

"If Goretzka is missing - as he was against Bremen - the hierarchy gets mixed up," record Germany caps holder added. "Thomas Müller is actually always at the top of the hierarchy at Bayern, but can he influence things if he's only a substitute?"

Tuchel labelled his team's performance as "sloppy" afterwards but Matthäus believes the coach should take some of the flak.

"When a coach stands up after a defeat and only blames the team, as Thomas Tuchel did after the 1-0 defeat against Werder Bremen, then that's quite a slap in the face for the players," the former Bayern star said.