When Bayer Leverkusen and FC Bayern face each other in the top game of the Bundesliga on Saturday evening, there will also be a duel between star coaches Xabi Alonso and Thomas Tuchel. However, the public’s perception of the two trainers is very different. Ex-professional Michael Rummenigge knows why this is the case.
“On the one hand, Xabi Alonso, who is considered one of the pioneers of modern football and has a very special aura simply because of his playing career. On the other hand, Thomas Tuchel, who is certainly in no way inferior to the Spaniard in terms of his skills, and who makes his life in… “It has sometimes made things unnecessarily difficult over the past few months,” said Rummenigge, summing up his impressions in a guest article for “Sportbuzzer”.
Tuchel had made himself vulnerable in recent weeks because he repeatedly engaged in verbal skirmishes with his critics. This behavior is a mystery to Rummenigge.
“Why does Tuchel keep reacting to the assessments of experts like Dietmar Hamann or Lothar Matthäus? I don’t understand it. It’s not about whether Bayern’s coach or the observers are right in terms of content. It’s about the fact that Tuchel simply has to become more confident “According to the motto: Why does it bother the moon if a dog barks at it,” emphasized the former national player.
Rummenigge’s impression: “Instead of letting issues peter out, Tuchel keeps them moving. That seems a bit thin-skinned and doesn’t help him.”
However, the FC Bayern coach also has to cope with pressure in Munich that is “incomparably greater than at Bayer,” said the 60-year-old. In addition, Tuchel recently lacked personnel “alternatives” and the last transfer summer was “messed up”.
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However, Rummenigge does not believe that FC Bayern will win in Leverkusen. Like in the first leg (2:2), the Lippstadt native is tipping for a draw.
“With all my sympathy for Bayern, as a football fan, I would really like it if we had a different champion this year. That would be good for the league. After Borussia Dortmund was too dull last season, Leverkusen would be in the current situation a worthy champion,” emphasized Rummenigge.