Bayern Chief Takes aim at Thomas Tuchel Over Squad Depth Remarks

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Thomas Tuchel has been criticised by Bayern Munich’s honorary president Uli Hoeness for making “unwise statements” about the club’s playing squad.

The Bavarian giants have been steady but unspectacular in the early weeks of the season, remaining unbeaten in the Bundesliga but trailing Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart after seven matchdays.

Bayern have also made a good start to their Champions League campaign, seeing off Manchester United and FC Copenhagen to top Group A with a maximum six points.

But Tuchel, who succeeded Julian Nagelsmann as head coach towards the end of the 2022/23 season, has made no secret of his desire to strengthen Bayern’s squad, with the former Chelsea and PSG boss particularly critical of the club’s lack of depth in central midfield.

“The squad is a bit thin, a bit small. We have six trained defensive players for a four-man chain, which is perfect,” Tuchel previously complained, having missed out on the signings of Declan Rice and Joao Palhinha this summer – the latter was at Bayern’s training ground on deadline day but a move from Fulham fell through after the Premier League side failed to source a replacement.

Bayern’s hierarchy have been described as ‘irritated’ by Tuchel’s outbursts, and Hoeness’ comments to NTV indicate the club’s unhappiness with his statements about the playing squad.

“Those statements are a feast for the media, especially the tabloids,” Hoeness said. “Some, including the coach, made unwise statements, because I shouldn’t make my own team look bad by saying our squad is too thin. We don’t have a thin squad.

“If we feel that we need additions by January, we will make signings. We can’t always just make sure that we live in the here and now, but that this club should be healthy for the next 10 years.”

Bayern signed Harry Kane and Kim Min-jae in big money deals this summer, and also drafted Konrad Laimer in from RB Leipzig on a free transfer. But they did allow Ryan Gravenberch and Benjamin Pavard to depart late on in the window, with Marcel Sabitzer another high-profile midfield departure to rivals Borussia Dortmund.

The club are chasing a record-extending 12th successive Bundesliga crown, with Kane’s arrival also geared around challenging for a seventh European Cup/Champions League success.

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