Thomas Tuchel and his appearance on the Sky microphone continue to cause discussions. A sports psychologist is now providing new insights.
Munich – Next act in the expert theater. Now ex-national player Didi Hamann (50) in the dispute with Thomas Tuchel (50) was surprised at the form of criticism FC Bayern-Trainer expressed. “I was a little surprised by the way it was done. This is also a form of decency. You have to do that on a certain level,” said TV expert Hamann on the Sky90 program on Sunday evening.
After Bayern’s 4-0 win in the top Bundesliga game at Borussia Dortmund, Tuchel reacted irritably to criticism from Hamann and his Sky colleague Lothar Matthäus (62). Before the victory, the Munich coach brushed off the TV experts’ statements in a cool and humorous way. But why the 180 degree turn?
Sports psychologist explains what makes Bayern coach Tuchel tick: “Everyone has two faces”
“In the end, each of us has two faces. That is a good thing. But you have to learn how to use them correctly,” says sports psychologist Matthias Herzog (46) in an interview with tz. The expert explains: “To put it simply, there are four personality types.” Green is the supporter, like Mother Teresa. Yellow the buddy, like Pippi Longstocking. “Tuchel is a red-dominant guy. These are the makers, like Lewis Hamilton or Dieter Bohlen. Reds have the winning gene and the highest demands on themselves and others. They don’t accept that something doesn’t work,” says Herzog.
“But Tuchel also has blue traits. That means he’s a perfectionist, a shoelace ironer like Sherlock Holmes. Most coaches have this combination, including Louis van Gaal and Pep Guardiola. The strengths of this combination are that these guys make decisions, lead the way and have a clear structure.”
Various advice for Tuchel
A mixture that also carries risks. “With the red dominant, there is a risk that they will become too dominant, too hierarchical and thus deprive the athletes of a lot of potential. Reds hate criticism, are resistant to advice and don’t like to be told what to do by others. They rarely have their emotions under control, often feel superior to others and look for blame on others,” says Herzog. His advice: “Reds have to learn to admit mistakes. This guy should take deep breaths during trigger moments. Counting slowly or using a punching bag to unwind also helps.”
For example, Tuchel revealed that he meditates in the morning during an appointment with the club media as part of a Japanese tea ceremony during FC Bayern’s Audi Summer Tour. After leaving Chelsea FC, he also took some time off and, among other things, did an Ayurveda treatment in India.
Bayern President Herbert Hainer liked Tuchel’s reaction
However, around the Dortmund game his emotions burst out of him. Herbert Hainer (69) thought it was good that “Thomas has now put up a stop sign,” said the Bayern President on MagentaTV. “I like that he is so defensive.” According to Herzog, the testy appearance can be an advantage for the rest of the season. “His behavior towards Hamann and Matthäus can have a positive effect on the team. “They can grow closer together,” emphasizes the sports psychologist. “However, he has also said unclever things about his players in the past, for example his desire for a holding six. But in Dortmund he showed that he can also fight for the team like a lion. The question is how sustainable that is.” By the way: A discussion between Tuchel and the two Sky experts is not planned. Philip Kessler