Thomas Tuchel surprises with a fit of laughter and a nasty announcement

Bundesliga

There was a time when Thomas Tuchel was considered a rough conversationalist. Someone who isn’t necessarily up for jokes. When he coached Mainz 05 and BVB, this was certainly also due to his predecessor Jürgen Klopp, who appeared fundamentally different and left the fans with certain expectations.

But even as coach of FC Bayern, Tuchel has already had appearances that were not necessarily pleasant for his counterparts. In the first half of the season, for example, he was sharp-tongued several times around critical statements from Dietmar Hamann and Lothar Matthäus.

Things looked completely different on Friday evening. His team had just won 3-0 against TSG Hoffenheim and had a wonderful start to 2024. Bayern have now moved back within one point of league leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Stars like Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané and Manuel Neuer have already shown impressive form despite the recent winter break.

In short: Tuchel had every reason to be happy. And you could tell that after the game on the Dazn microphone. “We had a few good things in the game. We won the ball a lot in the opponent’s half”said the trainer with satisfaction.

FC Bayern: Tim Borowski causes Thomas Tuchel to laugh

However, he also emphasized that he was not completely satisfied with the performance: “Once again we weren’t fluid enough and couldn’t bring the desire and energy from the training week onto the pitch. We had the game under control for a long time, but almost gave it away midway through the second half.”

Tuchel thought about the three great chances that Hoffenheim had in a very short space of time. Manuel Neuer saved twice, once from the crossbar. The coach analyzed the opportunity of Andrej Kramarić, who appeared alone in front of Bayern’s goalkeeper, very hard. Konrad Laimer should have moved in, Dayot Upamecano took too great a risk in advancing.

During the game, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel had to be loud.Image: IMAGO images / Laci Perenyi

In order to give the conversation a positive turn, expert Tim Borowski noted what he had noticed.
“I thought it was really good in the first 30 minutes in terms of energy and counter-pressing,” said the former international.

At that point, Tuchel chuckled and said: “We also lost enough of the ball for counter-pressing.” The 50-year-old followed the brief fit of laughter with a factual classification. “Yeah, it was good after that.”

Thomas Tuchel wants to “enslave” FC Bayern stars

The bottom line was that the result was “great, but there is still something to be done,” summed up the Bayern coach. The upcoming training camp in Portugal offers a good opportunity for this.

Because of Tuchel’s clear words, the players shouldn’t spend too much time at the pool or on the golf course, suspected Dazn presenter Alex Schlüter. Tuchel, who was visibly in a good mood, immediately answered with a broad grin: “No way, they will be oppressed.”

This will also include Eric Dier, whom his coach considers to be “ready to play” after his stay in Portugal. “He’s totally fit, we saw that in the performance test,” said the 50-year-old, praising the physical condition of his new signing.

Whether Tuchel will even get another new one remains to be seen: “We’re still seeing whether something works with a full-back who is strong in tackles. If something works, we will do something. If not, then it is as it is now.”

FC Bayern: England reporter makes Thomas Tuchel laugh

At Dazn, the trainer was through with it, but he wasn’t off work yet. He then spoke to Archie Rhind-Tutt, a reporter for “ESPN”. The Englishman is known for his bright outfits, and his jackets in particular always stand out. In Munich on Friday he presented himself in an unusually simple top.

“What is that? That’s impossible! I always defend your style, but that? No,” Tuchel joked. That would be better under a jacket, he added with a grin. At that moment, the Bayern coach probably felt the same way as the English-speaking spectators: He was missing a colorful jacket at Rhind-Tutt. But he left one thing to the journalist about his surprising choice of jacket: “It’s very soft.”