Thomas Tuchel remarked that he might “never celebrate” with his team, even after guiding Bayern Munich to a 4-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in his inaugural match as manager on Saturday.
Tuchel took over the reins from the recently-dismissed Julian Nagelsmann last week, choosing a subdued celebration as Bayern climbed to the top of the Bundesliga standings.
Explaining his decision not to join his team on the field at the Allianz Arena after the game, Tuchel told reporters, “It’s not the right time. Julian was the coach until recently, and I joined late in the season.”
He said he might never celebrate with his players at Bayern and that he is “content to remain on the sidelines.”
Tuchel emphasized his role in helping his players reach their full potential as a team, creating a positive environment, and staying out of other matters.
Thomas Mueller, Bayern’s captain, who scored twice in the victory, said the players should bear responsibility for Nagelsmann’s dismissal.
When questioned if the decision to sack Nagelsmann was correct following the resounding win, Mueller responded, “If I have an opinion, I won’t share it here. When a manager is replaced, we (the players) didn’t deliver the right performance on the pitch.”
The victory allowed Bayern to surpass Dortmund in the Bundesliga standings, leading by two points.
Tuchel called the win “a good initial step” but promised to refine his “unpolished” team. He stressed the importance of improving and learning, noting that numerous small aspects require enhancement.
