Excitement between coaches
Tuchel spoke of a “disgrace” after Nagelsmann duel
June 6, 2026 – 7:18 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Thomas Tuchel is a pioneer in Julian Nagelsmann’s coaching career. A direct duel still ends with sharp words.
Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel have a special relationship. Nagelsmann once played for FC Augsburg’s second team under the current England coach, and in this context took his first steps as a coach by preparing opponent analyzes. In 2023, Tuchel replaced his former protégé at FC Bayern as head coach.
In between, the two trainers met three times in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim and BVB and three times in the Champions League with Leipzig and PSG. Above all, the first meeting in the “premier class” brought explosive things with it.
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On August 18, 2020, in the midst of the corona pandemic, it was all about making it to the final in Lisbon. The favored Parisians clearly won 3-0, but Tuchel was still angry. He complained about too many fouls on his professionals, Nagelsmann was understanding. RB athletics coach Daniel Behlau also got involved. The PSG coach didn’t like that at all. He scolded the assistant and called it a “disgrace.”
Nagelsmann has only won one duel with Tuchel so far
Even long after the final whistle, there was no sign of relaxation, as Yvonne Gabriel, Leipzig reporter for “Bild”, recalls in the t-online podcast “Julian Nagelsmann – The Youngest One”. Tuchel was “extremely dogged,” she reports. “The Leipzig team were still upset afterwards. They wanted to congratulate him in the coaching locker room, but he didn’t open the door,” the reporter reflects.
Almost three months later there was a reunion in the Champions League group phase, this time Leipzig won 2-1. In six meetings between the German coaches, this is Nagelsmann’s only win to date. There could also be another duel at the 2026 World Cup: Nagelsmann trains the DFB team, Tuchel is the English national coach.