Coach Thomas Tuchel has defended FC Bayern Munich’s review of re-signing defender Jérôme Boateng. Before the Champions League game on Tuesday (9 p.m./Prime Video) at FC Copenhagen, the 50-year-old pointed out that the verdict against the 2014 world champion for alleged violent attacks against his ex-girlfriend had recently been overturned. However, the process will be reopened.
“The presumption of innocence applies when proceedings are suspended. Because that is the case, we as a football club have the right to make football decisions,” said Tuchel on Monday evening in the Danish capital. It simply has to be possible to let “a deserving player” train with him. “The doors are always open,” said Tuchel. After the test phase in training, a decision will be made about signing the 35-year-old central defender, who left Bayern in 2021 and most recently played for Olympique Lyon.
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Bayern have a personnel shortage in the center of defense. Tuchel noted that he understands that Boateng is being discussed because of the private matter. But he “didn’t realize that this was causing unrest in the club and the team.”
National player Joshua Kimmich was positive about Boateng’s training comeback in Munich. “I was happy to see him again,” said the 28-year-old midfielder in Copenhagen. “Many of us won many titles with him,” said Kimmich. Boateng’s trial was “not a big issue in the dressing room”.
The new sports director Christoph Freund had previously announced a timely decision at Munich Airport before the Bayern team’s departure: “Yes, that would be our goal. We should add him straight away and not wait too long. I think there will be a decision at the end of this week.” Boateng, who is without a club, could help out in the central defender position. “We have seen that we are rather thinly positioned there,” admitted Freund. “It would be his role to support the team as a back-up and – if necessary – that he could then step in.” Boateng’s private story is not a big issue at Bayern.
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