THEY CANT SACK HIM?-What were Bayern thinking keeping Tuchel around? THIS IS THE REASON

The Bavarians made a significant error by choosing to retain a coach who has clearly lost the support of the players.

Thomas Tuchel was astonished by his players’ sudden decline in performance during the second half at the Stadio Olimpico three weeks ago. He maintained that it was not Lazio’s victory, but rather Bayern Munich’s loss.

The coach consistently brings up the same topic in his post-match press conferences. After Friday’s 2-2 draw with Freiburg, which virtually dashed the Bavarians’ Bundesliga title chances, Tuchel reiterated that his team’s setbacks were caused by their own actions.

“We played early in the game, around the 85th minute, while losing 1-0,” he said to DAZN, clearly puzzled by what he saw. “I believe it was not a question of determination or exertion.” We played without purpose during the initial 30 minutes and faced consequences as a result.

“We initiated attacks prematurely, lost possession during the offensive play, and allowed them to counter-attack.” We lacked organization, discipline, and proper positioning during the game. It was partially a form of ritual suicide known as harakiri.

The mention of ritualistic suicide by disembowelment understandably elicited an intense reaction from both the German media and the club. The violent visuals did not reduce the increasing tension at the Allianz Arena before the Champions League second-leg match against Lazio on Tuesday night.

Using ‘harakiri’ was somewhat justified, considering Bayern is responsible for sabotaging their chances of victory this season.

On February 21, Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen stated that the club would sever their association with Tuchel at the season’s conclusion. The decision was extremely unusual and the reaction to a series of poor results highlighted a clear disconnect between the coaching staff and players, as demonstrated by the argument between Zsolt Low and Joshua Kimmich after the Bochum defeat on February 18.

By that point, it was evident that Tuchel was unable to solve Bayern’s numerous issues. He was observed vigorously gesturing on the sidelines during the defeat to Lazio on February 14, attempting to inspire his players to increase their speed and urgency. His fervent directives failed to provoke any significant reaction, as Bayern struggled to recapture the confidence that had inexplicably vanished in the second half of a game they had been controlling.

Tuchel admitted that he couldn’t explain why the players lost intensity and courage at the beginning of the half despite being instructed to sustain it.

Tuchel appeared disoriented, and on the same night, midfielder Leon Goretzka likened the scenario to an endless “horror movie” – why did Bayern choose to extend the suffering?

Xabi Alonso, their primary target for the takeover, will not be available until the end of the season. The alternatives follow a similar narrative. Bayern had doubts about some of the temporary choices, especially with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Announcing Tuchel’s resignation in hopes of motivating the team was misguided at best and foolish at worst. Tuchel’s position at Bayern is not comparable to that of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool or Xavi at Barcelona. This is not a group united by a common goal to guarantee that a very popular individual receives the successful farewell he truly deserves.

Dreesen’s unequivocal plea for the players to offer their maximum during Tuchel’s final months indicates the significant division in the dressing room.

What were Bayern’s expectations? Did they truly anticipate that the news of Tuchel’s upcoming departure would unite everyone or spark a surge of emotion that may propel the squad to Champions League victory?

That was simply unattainable. Jupp Heynckes, the renowned former Bayern manager, emphasized to Kicker the need of coaches earning the respect of their players in order to be successful. The bond between the coach and the team remains constant regardless of the contractual circumstances.

It has been suggested that Tuchel might be dismissed if Bayern does not reverse their 1-0 first-leg loss to Lazio. This raises the question of why the club would continue with a manager in whom there is little confidence, especially if his future is tied to European success.

Bayern doesn’t appear to have the ability to win the Champions League. If they get past Lazio, a struggling team in Serie A, they are unlikely to progress farther in the tournament as the confirmation of Tuchel’s departure has not resolved any issues.

Bayern won their first game after the news was announced with a last-minute goal from Harry Kane against RB Leipzig. However, they were held to a 2-2 draw at Freiburg on Friday, putting them 10 points behind Alonso’s undefeated Bayer Leverkusen with 10 games left.

Could the curse of ‘Neverkusen’ reoccur? Unlikely, yet possible. Would Bayern capitalize on any potential collapse by Leverkusen? No chance whatsoever! This team now lacks the ability to play with conviction, coherence, or consistency for a full 90 minutes.

Although they ended the game strongly in Freiburg, the first half was a fiasco. Tuchel implied that his players self-sabotaged by disregarding his pre-match instructions. Yesterday, we conducted a defensive training session followed by a video analysis session. “The information was clearly conveyed,” he informed DAZN. “We performed tasks that were unfamiliar and had not been discussed or practiced previously.”

Next was the controversial “harakiri” statement, which was poorly received by his employers. However, one must question what their expectations were.

Tuchel is known for his unconventional personality, which has led to his short tenures at top clubs. Therefore, the use of vivid and emotional language was expected in this situation.

He had essentially provided advance notice following the close victory against Leipzig. Tuchel stated to ESPN that the timing of the news of his departure was fortunate for him as it provided clarity. It also provides me with a small degree of autonomy. With each decision, I am less concerned if a player becomes upset because in the summer, it ceases to be my responsibility in certain respects.

He is correct as well; it is not his responsibility. It belongs to Bayern. They are solely responsible for exacerbating a negative scenario.

The former administration may have mishandled Julian Nagelsmann’s departure a year ago, a decision that now appears quite premature. However, the current leadership at Bayern currently seems confused and lacking in conviction, mirroring the players’ uncertainty.

The player recruitment has been subpar, with multiple moves mishandled. The Tuchel situation has been prolonged unnecessarily, and there are rumors that Jamal Musiala is seeking to go. Who could blame a talented young player for considering a move to a more stable environment at Manchester City or Liverpool? Bayern has been enveloped in uncertainty for over a year.

Dreesen & Co. believed that retaining the incumbent manager was the most suitable option due to the absence of superior alternatives, despite certain players expressing a desire for Tuchel’s term to end.

It is possible that Bayern’s hopes of avoiding a trophy-less season since 2012 may come to an end at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. However, instead of a sudden end, a slow and painful demise seems more probable and appropriate for the team, club, and coach who appear to be self-destructing.