There was a time at Bayern Munich when declarations of love from the coach to the players were so commonplace that it was easy to lose track. Pep Guardiola, Munich coach from 2013 to 2016, wanted “1000 Dantes”, but Holger Badstuber was “the best player I’ve ever had”. Sebastian Rode was his “favourite player” and Joshua Kimmich was even “almost my son”. Yes, once Guardiola said: “I love this boy!”
Thomas Tuchel has only been Bayern coach for a week, so any comparisons with his predecessors are of course premature. But on Monday afternoon he went a little on the path laid out by the Spaniard and which has been legendary ever since, at least rhetorically. Asked about João Cancelo – incidentally loaned from Manchester City in the winter because he was no longer used there by coach Guardiola – Tuchel said: “I love Cancelo, I love João.” He later explained: “The most important thing is that I love my team.”
One of the reasons why the board of directors of FC Bayern decided to dismiss Julian Nagelsmann in a hurry, which is still controversial in its course of action, was, as is well known, Tuchel’s competence and experience in dealing with demanding footballers, particularly tried and tested during his time at Paris Saint- Germain. In Munich he has now won his first important game against Borussia Dortmund, the next ones will follow immediately, this Tuesday against SC Freiburg in the DFB Cup quarter-finals, on Saturday in Freiburg in the league, three days later at ManCity and Guardiola in the first leg of the quarter-finals the Champions League. And the skills he acquired in Paris have long been in demand.
Cancelo, for example, came on late on Saturday against Dortmund and was visibly unhappy about it, which may have contributed to the particularly euphoric praise at the press conference. Tuchel listed the strengths of the Portuguese. And he said, “We’re going to need him.”
“He’s still looking for himself at Bayern Munich,” says Kahn about Mané
Sadio Mané also only came off the bench against BVB again in the second half, which is why CEO Oliver Kahn also spoke about him during his Sunday visit to Sky (when, for once, he did not comment on the chronology of Nagelsmann’s sudden dismissal). “He’s still looking for himself at Bayern Munich,” said Kahn about the Senegalese, who has never been convincing for several weeks since his transfer from Liverpool last summer, which was presented with drums and trumpets. He is looking for his rhythm, especially after his return from an injury break that cost him his participation in the World Cup. “Like every player in this squad, he’s in a competitive situation. He doesn’t know that,” said Kahn, and: “He’s a player who needs something that you have to deal with a lot.”
Tuchel took up the template and, when asked, explained that Mané’s importance and quality were out of the question. “It’s about trust, about a bit of patience to get back into the flow,” he said. A goal usually helps sensitive strikers to increase their enjoyment of the job: “It’s our turn right now.”
The coach’s message was as banal as it was unmistakable: Everyone is important. “It’s definitely clear that we won’t get through the next few weeks with a starting eleven,” said Tuchel. “Now we just have to make sure that we bring in as many as possible in the short space of time, grow together as a group and quickly reach our top level.” By the way, when asked about it on Monday, he also praised Jamal Musiala, Benjamin Pavard, Leroy Sané – and in the highest tones Christian Streich, the coach of the opponent SC Freiburg.
