It doesn’t matter that Barcelona’s bench is always hot and that the pressure is so high that even their former players cannot cope with it (see: Xavi), it doesn’t matter that the club is in financial plight, it doesn’t matter that the sporting director said that the new coach won’t be getting major singings, that club is so attractive to many. According to the reports from the last couple of days, it seems that Germany is the most popular country in Catalonia. Thomas Tuchel, Hansi Flick and Ralf Ranginck are three successful managers and they are all (one way or another) in the mix for the hot Barca bench, but currently only one of them is available. In May, they could all be free to replace Xavi.Instead of Lazio, Bayern is thinking of a new/old coachAware that he is counting his last days in Munich, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel is preparing a backup position for himself. And as Mundo Deportivo claims, the German expert sees his future in Barcelona. The president of the Spanish giants, Joan Laporta, has links with the former Chelsea coach. Apparently, Tuchel was his favorite in 2021 to replace Ronald Koeman, when Laporta just came back to Barca for the second time, but unlucky for him, the German tactician won the Champions League with the Blues, so at the time, he was off limits. But now, the situation is different, since his time in Bayern could be over soon, so Tuchel’s entourage made sure to inform the Catalans that the German would be open to negotiate.Deco calls for radical changes at BarcaJoan Laporta is apparently a huge fan of the German school of football, so former Bayern and Germany boss Hansi Flick is another name linked to the Camp Nou. He is out of job since September, when he was sacked by Germany and would be willing to try his luck in Spain. Former member of Pep Guardiola’s staff in Bayern Domènec Torrent commented on Flick’s style.”I don’t know what the German school is, I don’t know it. Flick had not coached a first team, he came from being second, but they gave him Bayern and he did very well there. He played very well with Bayern, he won the European Cup taking on a team in its best moment, with Lewandowski four years younger, with Kimmich, with Davies… Good ball delivery, post-loss pressure, I liked his Bayern. But it didn’t go well for him in the German team, trying to do something similar. He has a quite recognizable style” said Torrent for the RAC 1. The problem is, Flick is all of a sudden being considered (again) for the Bayern’s bench if Tuchel leaves, and he would certainly consider that offer.‘Motta could be Barca’s coach and so could I’And the last one (and probably the most unrealistic one) is former Manchester United interim Ralf Rangnick. An unsuccessful manager at Old Trafford (but many of them shared his fate), but hugely respected everywhere else, former Schalke, Leipzig and Hoffenheim boss is now Austria national team coach. Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reportedly a big fan of Rangnick and ‘really likes’ him as an option to replace Xavi, according to Spanish outlet Sport. One of the reasons for that might be that Rangnick’s reputation as a developer of top young talent is big, and that’s one of the things the club will need, considering that they won’t be able to bring in big names due to financial restrictions. So far only Flick is available, but since Xavi is staying until June, there is plenty of time to talk to everyone and decide who the best is.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE1/8 finalsTuesday the 13thCopenhagen – Man.City 1-3 (1-2)/Mattsson 34 – De Bruyne 10, Silva 45+1, Foden 90+3/RB Leipzig – Real Madrid 0-1 (0-0)/Diaz 49/Wednesday the 14th23:00: (1.68) PSG (3.70) Sociedad (5.40)23:00: (6.25) Lazio (4.10) Bayern (1.55)Tuesday the 20th23:00: (2.00) Inter (3.40) Atl.Madrid (3.90)23:00: (2.15) PSV (3.45) Dortmund (3.35)Wednesday the 21st23:00: (4.10) Porto (3.50) Arsenal (1.90)23:00: (2.70) Napoli (3.35) Barcelona (2.60)***odds are subject to change***
