New Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel says he is looking forward to the task at hand after officially joining the German champions.
The former Paris Saint-Germain manager replaced Julian Nagelsmann at the Allianz Arena in the wake of the latter’s shock dismissal after losing the trust of the club’s bosses.
Bayern moved swiftly to secure Tuchel’s signature under the noses of Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid and former club PSG, who were also eyeing a move for the German tactician.
The former Chelsea manager has now been unveiled as the new Bayern head coach, returning to the German top flight for the first time since leaving Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
“I’m convinced that it’s an honour and a distinction to be approached by FC Bayern,” Tuchel told Bayern reporters after joining the club.
“When you sign a contract, it’s a great honour. When you work abroad for a while, you become even more aware of the importance of Bayern.
“The club’s DNA is about winning, also about the way of winning. The squad is one of the most talented and best squads in Europe. I’m really looking forward to working with this squad.”
Tuchel signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Bayern and will be hoping to throw a wrench in Dortmund’s quest to oust Bayern and clinch their first league title in 11 years.
This will be Tuchel’s first job since his unceremonious departure from Chelsea last year, and his debut comes against his former club Dortmund after the international break.
The Der Klassiker could have a significant impact in deciding which way the Bundesliga crown swings this year, with just one point separating both teams at the top of the table.
However, Tuchel is relishing the prospect of kicking off his Bayern career with a top-of-the-table clash at the start of next month.
“In the first seconds of the conversation I was relatively naive,” Tuchel added. “The challenge of starting directly with the game against Dortmund couldn’t be bigger.
“It’s German football’s biggest clash. It’s taken on a new explosiveness due to our gap in the standings and BVB’s extraordinary run. But that hasn’t stopped us from approaching the task with anticipation.”
