Strong words: Rummenigge takes a swipe at former Bayern boss Tuchel | OneFootball

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has once again expressed clear criticism of former coach Thomas Tuchel and questioned his leadership style at FC Bayern.

The 70-year-old, now a member of the supervisory board at FC Bayern and the club's CEO until 2021, spoke on Bayerischer Rundfunk about the changes since the coaching switch.

"The team spirit has returned (under coach Vincent Kompany; editor's note). It was somewhat lost with Thomas Tuchel because, in terms of empathy, the work was not good and sufficient," Rummenigge said on "Blickpunkt Sport" on Sunday evening. This continues his earlier critical remarks about Tuchel's time in Munich.

Tuchel managed FC Bayern from March 2023 to June 2024. As early as February 2024, the club and the coach agreed to part ways in the summer. Although there were efforts shortly thereafter to persuade Tuchel to stay, the separation was ultimately carried out. Internally, it was repeatedly criticized that the chemistry within the team had suffered under Tuchel.

With Vincent Kompany, Rummenigge sees a clear break in the atmosphere. "He (Kompany; editor's note) has shaped the team into a unit from day one, has good contact with every single player. The result is that the team really functions well, on the field but also in private life. They do a lot together, and the coach is the guiding spirit, doing a great job," Rummenigge praised the Belgian explicitly.

Tuchel reached the CL semi-finals with FC Bayern

Kompany took over in the summer of 2024 and led FC Bayern to the championship in his debut season. According to Rummenigge, the 39-year-old has managed to create a new dynamic and a closer bond between players and the coaching staff.

Photo: IMAGO

The statements by the Bayern boss are likely to spark discussions again in England and Germany. Tuchel had already been publicly criticized several times for his perceived distant manner. At the same time, he was considered tactically highly skilled and managed to bring Munich to the Champions League semi-finals in his first full season despite many injury problems.

Rummenigge's clear doubts about the team spirit under Tuchel show how significant the internal differences must have been. At the same time, he makes it clear that FC Bayern has apparently found exactly the type of coach in Kompany who can unite the locker room behind him—not only in sports but also on a personal level.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.