For the first time since it was announced that he is leaving Bayern at the end of the season, Thomas Tuchel addressed the media. As part of the announcement for the derby against RB Leipzig, the expert, as expected, faced numerous questions unrelated to the game itself.One of the first concerns is whether they will lose their authority after everything, given that the players are aware that they will not be leading them next season…”That would say more about the players themselves than about my authority, to be honest.”Tuchel pointed out that the footballers were informed of the decision on Wednesday. He placed the reasons for parting in several facts.”There is dissatisfaction with the way we play and the performance. Especially after three successive defeats. The culprit? There is not one culprit. If it was only me, I certainly would not be sitting here today. But I take responsibility. The development of the game and the results did not go in the direction I expected and wished”.##NAJAVA_MECA_7899430##He definitely dismisses speculation that there was a rift in the dressing room…”I repeat, if there was a problem with that, someone else would be here today instead of me. There is no disturbing factor in that sense. The responsible people from the club received my detailed analysis. There is a lot of self-criticism, but it is definitely not something for the public.”When asked if he was wrong to accept Bayern’s invitation, he said:”There’s no point in looking back now. Then the call happened and I decided to accept within 48 hours. I was sure, I wanted to. A lot of people forget how unlucky we were with injuries… However, it’s evident that I didn’t manage to lift level of play, that’s why we part ways”.Leverkusen on the edge of breaking a German football recordJournalists were also interested in how disappointed Tuchel is with his players…”I’m disappointed in myself and how we’re playing right now. I’m not disappointed in the players. I still have high expectations from them. The season isn’t over yet, we’re in the game for two trophies. I guess everything I’m telling you implies that I didn’t have any problems with the team.”The hardened strategist also said that it will not be difficult for him to bring the season to an end, regardless of everything that has happened since the beginning of the week.”No, it will be easy for me, because I love this job. It has never mattered to me whether I have a five-year or five-month contract. The only thing that matters is what is happening now. The circumstances are what they are, it doesn’t matter. I love what I do and I will work with the same energy as before. The factor of a clear situation is not negligible either. It gives a certain freedom, and it is always good. Both for training and for matches”.A more detailed explanation followed…”The situation is changing drastically. My decisions will be much freer now. Why? Because I no longer have to weigh and take into account the long-term effects of a certain decision. Every next game will be like relegation for us. There are examples where this effect has helped the coach as well and the team. What I want is for us to continue to give our maximum, which we often haven’t done until now”.##EDITORS_CHOICE##And then Tuchel gave some concrete examples of how it will be easier for him to choose the starting eleven.”It’s all normal and it exists in every club: with a player who has been in the team for a long time and has a long-term contract, you have to take more care. Of course you can’t have the same treatment for an 18-year-old and a 30-year-old. You, the media, are the first you make a big difference when Thomas Müller, Rafael Guerreiro or some third player remains on the bench. When Müller is not there you write about it for two weeks. When it happens that Guerreiro or someone else is on the bench, nothing is written”.You (media) are the very first to make a huge difference whether Müller or Guerreiro sits on the bench. When a certain player gets subbed, you talk and write about it for two weeks. When the same happens with Guerreiro or another player, nothing is written.pic.twitter.com/q4esJ6nD65— Tuchel Cam (@TuchelCam) February 23, 2024 Finally, Tuchel answered the question of whether and to what extent it is true that he never identified with Bayern and its DNA…”Judge me and my people by how the team plays and how many points we win. Also, I don’t think you will find many people in the club who will tell you that we haven’t got attached to this job. I don’t think that’s true,” he concluded. The media are already speculating that Tuchel will soon return to England. They even mention that he could succeed Erik ten Hag on the Manchester United bench.
