by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- The atmosphere at Bayern Munich is tense as the storied club faces the prospect of its first season without a title since 2012. The day following the 2020 treble winners' third consecutive loss, a palpable tension filled the air at the Bavarian headquarters.

Midfielder Leon Goretzka spoke about a never-ending horror movie after painful defeats against Leverkusen and Bochum in the national league and the 1-0 against Lazio in the first leg of the last-16 round of the UEFA Champions League.

While unrest couldn't be bigger, the club's chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen tried to ease tension around under-fire coach Thomas Tuchel.

While media reports speak of considerations to replace Tuchel with former manager Hansi Flick, the club official backed the struggling coach and announced that the former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea coach is going to coach the side in the upcoming league clash against Leipzig next Saturday.

Joshua Kimmich's fiery argument with assistant coach Zsolt Loew after his substitution seems only the tip of the iceberg as it seems an endless challenge to name the reigning German champion's difficulties.

Reports speak of the midfielder's tears followed by an outburst of emotions emerging in overheated comments in the direction of the assistant coach, with others having to keep both parties at a safe distance.

The team's current plight, described as hitting "rock bottom," signals impending significant changes to its sporting personnel, including Tuchel, by the end of the season at the latest.

While midfielder Leon Goretzka spoke about feeling like in a never-ending horror movie the teams and the clubs' future remains uncertain.

Like in 2012 when the Bavarians felt humiliated by Juergen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund being crushed in the league campaign and the German Cup final, a complete refresh seems inevitable.

Internal conflicts within the club's leadership are compounded by discord between the coach and several players. With national league leader Leverkusen now eight points ahead, and the team's Champions League aspirations in jeopardy, the season's objectives seem increasingly unattainable.

German football legend Lothar Matthaeus criticized Tuchel for causing unrest by questioning key players like Goretzka and Kimmich. He pointed to Dayot Upamecano's successive red cards as a clear sign of the team's spiraling control.

Nearly 333 days after Tuchel succeeded Julian Nagelsmann, efforts to stabilize the club have faltered, exacerbating the consequences of an incomplete transfer policy.

The possibility of the club and Tuchel parting ways seems imminent, though not all of Bayern's troubles can be attributed solely to the coach. Reports suggest that the only reason for the continued relationship is the absence of suitable replacements, according to the tabloid Bild. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)