Is Guardiola Doubting Thomas Tuchel?

The Battle of the Titans: Tuchel vs Guardiola

Julian Nagelsmann’s chances of remaining as coach of the Bundesliga Champions for the rest of the season were dashed by the unexpected appointment of Thomas Tuchel.

Speaking after the club announced the decision, Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn said: “When we signed Julian Nagelsmann for FC Bayern in the summer of 2021, we were convinced we would work with him on a long-term basis – and that was the goal of all of us right up to the end. Julian shares our aspiration to play successful and attractive football. But now we have come to the conclusion that the quality in our squad – despite the Bundesliga title last year – has come to the fore less and less often. After the World Cup, we played less successfully and less attractively. The big fluctuations in performance have cast doubt on our goals for this season, but also our goals for the future. That is why we have acted now. Personally and on behalf of FC Bayern, I would like to thank Julian and his coaching team, and wish everyone the best of luck for the future.” 

Formerly in charge of Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, Thomas will be at the Allianz Arena until June 30, 2025. He will lead his first training session at Säbener Straße on Monday, ahead of the Der Klassiker match against Dortmund the following weekend.

Nagelsmann leaves with his team in second position in the Bundesliga, one point behind leaders BVB, and in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

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Joao Cancelo was the first player to react to Tuchel’s appointment. Speaking to sky sport, Cancelo suggested Tuchel owe him after the German Chelsea side defeated City in the 2021 Champions League final. “He made me lose a Champions League Final, so I hope he lets me win this year,” Cancelo quipped. Players are on international duty and are returning to adjust to the new alterations that the ex-Chelsea boss will apply. Tuchel takes over as head coach as the defending champions trail second behind Borussia Dortmund, and the interesting aspect is that he will meet Pep Guardiola in the UEFA Champions League.

The German dashed Catalan ambitions of a quadruple in the 2021/2022 season, but the ex-Barcelona manager has reclaimed the upper hand ahead of their most recent match.

The UEFA Cup Nightmare Continues

Pep Guardiola has faced what detractors believe will be his kryptonite on numerous occasions during his five-and-a-half years at Manchester City. City was easily the greatest team in England when Tuchel succeeded Frank Lampard as manager, but the German’s arrival in west London in January changed the entire course of the 2021-22 season. Chelsea defeated City three times in three games: once in the FA Cup semi-final, once at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, and once in the Champions League. Tuchel appeared to have figured out how to defeat Guardiola’s apparently unstoppable team.

Man City and Bayern play in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. As if that is not enough, former Manchester City forward Leroy Sane and on-loan Joao Cancelo will face their previous club.
Guardiola can be regarded to have had a successful career in England with three consecutive Premier League titles, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup, but UEFA Champions League has been a nightmare that he has not been fortunate enough to include on his record. Finally, when he was on the edge of winning, he was defeated by Tuchel, whom he will now meet in the quarterfinals.

Will he evict Tuchel? Our job is to wait patiently for the bulls on the pitch.