Thomas Tuchel hit back at Didi Hamann after the Liverpool legend misinterpreted his comments on a potential move to Spain.
Upon news that Xavi Hernandez was set to step down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season, Tuchel said at a fan event in nearby Heidenheim: “Moving abroad would appeal to me again. Spain has an extraordinary league. From my perspective, and based on my experience working with Spaniards, they are characterised by a tremendous amount of self-confidence.
“When you speak with Spanish players, I quickly get the sense that you are engaging with the person.”
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Many at the time, including Hamann, considered Tuchel's comments as a pitch to Barcelona ahead of their new manager hunt.
When discussing Tuchel’s quotes Hamann lashed out at the former Chelsea boss, labelling his Bayern Munich appointment as the club’s “biggest misunderstanding since Jurgen Klinsmann”.
The ex=Liverpool star said via Bild: “He sits down and talks about Xavi, about the successor and that he would like to train in Barcelona or Spain. That's a disgrace!
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“He (Tuchel) is a very intelligent man, something like that doesn't just slip out of his mouth. Only he has to know one thing: If you are an employee of Bayern, taking on the management - that is rarely a good idea.
“When I look at the last three home games, it's subpar by Bayern Munich's standards. Against three teams that are at the bottom, that's simply not enough.”
Bayern subsequently released a statement insisting they no longer accepted “such non-factual statements" while Hamann also apologised.
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That didn't stop Tuchel from hitting back at Hamann,
The Bayern boss told SPORT1: "The things that happened were completely taken out of context and said deliberately.
"Statements were deliberately made that were not true. I was at a fan meeting and we were all shocked at what he [Hamann] made of it. That's why I don't care if he apologised. I don't buy it and that's why it's irrelevant."
Topics: Football, Thomas Tuchel, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Transfers
Chris Byfield