When Thomas Tuchel entered the Allianz Arena press room at 12:40 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, all the cameras were pointed at him. The new FC Bayern coach had dressed up, wore a smart, tailored, dark blue suit and a three-day beard. With a mischievous grin, he sat down on the podium alongside the two club bosses, Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic.
“It’s an honor and a distinction to be asked by Bayern Munich. When I signed my contract yesterday, I realized that it was something very special.” Tuchel’s first words as Bayern coach were polite, peppered with appreciation for his new employer.
But the first declaration of war followed immediately. The German record champions are “one of the biggest clubs in the world”. Tuchel added: “Winning is in the club’s DNA. I’m really looking forward to working here. We’re capable of winning every title.”
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As is well known, it was not the first time that the Munich team dared to attack the native of Krumbach. Already in 2018, when Jupp Heynckes announced the end of his career, Tuchel was at the top of the wish list. At least on that of the then CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
President Uli Hoeneß was not completely convinced at the time, instead he tried to persuade Heynckes to change his mind. It goes without saying that the story from back then was revisited as part of Tuchel’s presentation.
“FC Bayern had every right to wait for Jupp’s decision back then. In the last phone call we had back then, I said I wasn’t angry with anyone,” said Tuchel: “I would have felt the same way if I were Uli Hoeneß I just couldn’t wait then because in the meantime a real option came (PSG, d. Red.).”
Thomas Tuchel talks about his engagement at FC Bayern Munich
Fotocredit: Getty Images
“It’s not the time for big changes in the system or big changes in the processes. That’s not necessary,” explained the 49-year-old and added: “Less is more.”
However, he did not want to contact his predecessor. Not out of disrespect, as Tuchel made clear. Rather, he wants to get an unbiased picture of the team.
Tuchel jokes about the contract period
When asked why his contract term was “only” two years, Tuchel answered frankly: “It’s progress, I started at Chelsea when I was 18 months old,” he joked.
He feels extremely comfortable with the running time, “but we can talk about it honestly: If that’s good, if everyone feels good, we will try to extend it. And if anyone on the podium here doesn’t feel comfortable, it will too no longer go – no matter what the working paper says.”
After his remarkable first appearance, it is now important for Tuchel to quickly fulfill the immense expectations. After the duel with leaders Dortmund, SC Freiburg is waiting in the DFB quarter-finals, a week later the Champions League cracker against Manchester City is on the program.
Tuchel’s plan: “We want to capitalize on the starting position that Julian created with the team, that there are still chances of winning all three titles at the end of March.”
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