Thomas Tuchel has copped criticism during Bayern Munich’s difficult campaign with the German boss hitting back at his critics after making the last four of the Champions League
Thomas Tuchel snapped back at the media after they questioned whether he felt gratification after taking Bayern Munich into the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The ex-Chelsea and PSG boss knows he’ll be leaving the Allianz Arena come the end of the season with the Bavarians enduring a below-par year. Their 11-year dominance of the Bundesliga has ended with Bayer Leverkusen claiming their domestic crown.
Tuchel presided over a shock early German Cup exit to leave the Champions League as Bayern’s only hope of landing any silverware. The 50-year-old tactician has suffered some poor losses but his team stepped up to beat Arsenal 3-2 on aggregate.
Joshua Kimmich scored the decisive goal in Munich as the European giants battled to overcome the Premier League high flyers. Arsenal had been tipped to advance given the struggles of Bayern, but Tuchel was able to guide his team through and then took the opportunity to swipe at the media.
He was quizzed on whether he felt the win provided gratification given the team’s difficulties this season, but snapped back as he said: “But where did the criticism come from. From you, the media, and now you ask me if I feel any gratification? It is what it is. I have given it all from the first day and will give it all until the last day.”
Bayern will now face Real Madrid in the semi-finals as they eye a spot in the final at Wembley. The Germans won the European Cup at Wembley back in 2013 and have a manager in Tuchel who knows what it takes to win the tournament, doing so with Chelsea in 2021.
“The semi-final is a huge step,” he said. “The last four, that was fun. Great joy and great relief. These are special moments. We beat one of the top Premier League clubs. We will have to see what this win does to the club. The season is not yet over. Especially not now.”
Harry Kane, who for so long was a problem for Arsenal during his Tottenham days, still has the chance to finish his first season in Munich with a trophy. He scored a penalty in the first leg and admits the remit for the club is to conquer Europe.
“The expectation here is to try and win the Champions League,” he said. “We won the league for 11 years in a row so maybe there was a bit of tempo missing [as we didn’t win it this year]. That can’t happen. Now we have to enjoy the Champions League and try to get ready for Saturday.”
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