Thomas Tuchel, the tactician for Bayern Munich, has expressed interest in taking over as coach of the Blaugranas following Xavi Hernandez’s imminent exit from Barcelona.
After Barcelona’s recent poor performance, most notably a depressing 5-3 loss to Villarreal in La Liga over the weekend, Xavi decided to say goodbye to the supporters at Camp Nou. With 11 points separating them from the top of the table, the Catalan giants are mired in fourth place.
Fans of Barcelona are worried about the team’s inconsistent play, which was highlighted by their midweek loss to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey, which made their league problems worse.
Talks over Xavi’s replacement have started quickly, with the club now probably turning its attention to the Champions League as their main chance to win trophies this season.
Out of all the names doing the rounds in the transfer gossip mill, Thomas Tuchel of Bayern has proven to be a strong contender. During a recent Bayern club event, Tuchel, who is renowned for his tactical skill and adaptability, voiced his admiration for the Spanish footballing culture, raising the possibility that playing in La Liga would be appealing.
“I’d be interested in moving overseas again. The league in Spain is exceptional. Based on my observations and interactions with Spaniards, I believe they possess an extraordinary degree of self-assurance,” said Tuchel.
Despite much conjecture over Tuchel’s future, especially in light of Bayern’s poor Bundesliga season, the Bavarians defeated Augsburg 3-2 in a hard-fought match to close the gap to leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Over his managerial career, Tuchel has managed teams across Europe, from stints in France with Paris Saint-Germain to a successful time in England with Chelsea, when he won the Champions League.
The German strategist, who took over at Bayern in March of last year, is devoted to his current position until 2025, but in the midst of Barcelona’s quest for a new steward to lead them into a new age, the temptation of heading one of football’s most illustrious clubs may prove too much to resist.