Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel has acknowledged that he “felt more valued” during his time at Chelsea because it’s “extremely challenging to avoid” criticism in Germany.
In a controversial move, Chelsea dismissed Tuchel in September 2022, replacing him with Graham Potter, a decision orchestrated by the club’s new owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.
Despite the change, Chelsea fans continued to chant Tuchel’s name four months after his departure, highlighting his enduring popularity among the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Despite his relatively short 19-month tenure as Chelsea’s head coach, Tuchel left a remarkable legacy. Under his guidance, Chelsea achieved success in the Champions League, Club World Cup, and Super Cup.
Additionally, the team reached two FA Cup finals and finished as a runner-up in the Carabao Cup.
Despite securing the Bundesliga title last season, Tuchel has faced criticism from the demanding Bayern fan base, as the Bavarians currently occupy the second spot behind Bayer Leverkusen.
When asked in an interview with ESPN if he felt more appreciated in England than in Germany, Tuchel said: “Yep. Pretty simple question. I feel we are very critical of each other in Germany, especially with players and coaches. It is very hard to escape. There is a picture and this picture is basically the picture for years and years. I felt more appreciation in England, yes.”
However, Tuchel’s time at Chelsea was characterized by a strained relationship with the club’s hierarchy, who assumed control from Roman Abramovich in May 2022.
The rift was so severe that co-owner Boehly reportedly referred to Tuchel as a “nightmare” to work with, especially regarding player transfers.
Tuchel’s success at Bayern will ultimately be measured by their performance in the Champions League. They maintained an undefeated record in the group stages of the competition and secured a spot in the round of 16 as the leaders of Group A.
Their next challenge is against Lazio in February. Before that, the reigning German champions have five Bundesliga games ahead, starting with a match against Werder Bremen on Sunday.