Thomas Tuchel is not someone who beats around the bush for a long time. The coach also sent unmistakable signals during FC Bayern’s trip to Asia – be it in the form of his team line-up in the three friendly games or in surprisingly open comments.
“I’m a six,” Joshua Kimmich countered his trainer’s findings. Tuchel had claimed: “We don’t have a real defensive six, who thinks very defensively, who makes sure that nothing happens back there”, so it’s “more about protecting your own defence.”
According to the message, Kimmich is not this so-called “Holding Six”. He was, said Tuchel, rather “our strategist who likes to do and can do everything”.
Tuchel does not want to comment on questions about Harry Kane
Photo Credit: SID
Tuchel: “We trust our players”
And now? If Honorary President Uli Hoeneß has his say, who, like Tuchel, has a say in Bayern’s seven-strong “Sports Committee”, there is no need for a six, after all Konrad Laimer came on a free transfer.
Probably also to calm things down a bit, Tuchel also said: “We trust our players.” It is questionable to what extent this applies to Leon Goretzka.
Even before leaving for Asia, it was clear from the trainer’s statements that the national player was no longer the first choice alongside Kimmich, and newcomer Laimer then started in the three friendlies in Tokyo and Singapore. Tuchel claimed it was “a snapshot”.
Thomas Tuchel looks amazed at Saudi Arabia
Photo Credit: SID
Further test games should bring insights
For the moment, Mathijs de Ligt and Kingsley Coman would also be out for the time being – both, like Goretzka, were only substituted on in the second half of all three friendlies.
The next test match could bring further insights before the Supercup against RB Leipzig on August 12 (8:45 p.m. live in the ticker): FC Bayern meets AS Monaco in the Unterhaching suburb on Monday afternoon.
It also remains unclear: What does the interim solution look like in the goal? A return from Manuel Neuer seems uncertain, Yann Sommer is a candidate at Inter Milan. Here, too, Bayern are stuck at the stage of discussions.
One thing is clear: the transfer deadline ends on August 31st.
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