After several weeks of silence, the topic of Thomas Tuchel’s successor is once again making headlines in the German media. And it’s not surprising, especially after Bayer Leverkusen secured the title over the weekend, leaving Bayern Munich far, far behind in the rearview mirror. Also, Xabi Alonso publically announced that he is staying put, effectively ending their pursuit of the Spanish tactician. An now comes the part for which we will never know if it true: Julian Nagelsmann was Bayern’s first choice all along. Apparently, sporting director Max Eberl pinpointed the former Bavarians coach, who was sacked in March 2023 while he was still first at the table as his main target and a final decision had been made to offer the young coach a chance to return, along with some form of apology.Bayern’s new director: ‘Next coach should be German or English’Considering that Eberl is not saying anything officially (and rightfully so), it is really hard to believe that Nagelsmann was discussed among Bayern officials while there was a chance to get Xabi Alonso. It is also hard to believe that Zinedine Zidane was not contacted. After all, he is the coach who won three consecutive Champions League titles. There were also talks that he was indeed the first choice and that he requested to bring another club’s legend Frenk Ribery, who is a French, played for the Bavarians and knows German. But, the top two German journalists (Bild and Sky Sports) connected to Bayern are saying it’s Nagelsmann.“Max Eberl and Christoph Freund have already had preliminary discussions with the agents of the young coach, and they went well. Bayern has prepared a contract for three or four years. It’s up to Julian to choose. He hasn’t said a final ‘yes’ yet because the German Football Association is trying to convince him to extend his current cooperation, which expires after the European Championship. However, Nagelsmann is currently closer to the decision to return to Munich” says the report from Florian Plettenberg (Sky).Alonso leaning towards Bayern, Klopp’s legacy too big to handleAs for the apology? After the mighty Uli Hoeness characterized Nagelsmann’s dismissal and Tuchel’s appointment as a big mistake back in October, and another journalist (Christian Falk – Bild) has now explained how the change came about and everything that followed.”I wasn’t directly involved in Julian Nagelsmann’s dismissal, and I don’t think it was wise. On Wednesday, before the final decision, Hasan came to my door and said: ‘We want to do this! Actually, we’ve already decided’…” said Hoeness at the time. It’s true that Hoeness was informed late, but it’s also true that as the main figure on the Supervisory Board, he could have stopped the management’s decision. And on that particular moment, Honess met his protégé Hasan Salihamidžić at his house at the Tegernsee lake and even thou he was not 100% for it, gave him the green light to bring in Thomas Tuchel.”Nothing in this club works without Uli, that’s a big truth. Salihamidžić went to Lake Tegernsee on Wednesday night and got the ‘OK’. Although he doubted the correctness of the decision, Hoeness supported it” wrote Falk. Having wrote that, the also added that in the case of current German boss, he wasn’t the ‘main man’, as he usually is.Is there something going on between Nageslmann and Borussia?”Uli has a decisive voice on the Supervisory Board, and if he says something, it indicates the direction things are heading. However, in this case, you cannot overlook the fact that the dismissal of Nagelsmann was a solo effort by the previous executives, Kahn and Salihamidžić. Julian Nagelsmann must know that” he wrote. So, is it time for another summit in Hoeness’s house at the Tegernsee lake?UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEQuarterfinals – second legTuesday22:00: (2.30) Dortmund (3.50) Atl.Madrid (3.25) /first leg 1-2/22:00: (2.30) Barcelona (3.70) PSG (3.15) /first leg 3-2/Wednesday22:00: (2.45) Bayern (3.60) Arsenal (2.95) /first leg 2-2/22:00: (1.67) Man.City (3.80) Real Madrid (5.30) /first leg 3-3/***odds are subject to change***
