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.”
Many at the time, including Hamann, considered Tuchel's comments as a pitch to Barcelona ahead of their new manager hunt.
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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!
“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.
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