Why did Bayern suddenly sack Nagelsmann?

The leadership of German club Bayern Munich would make a surprising decision if they were to dismiss their captain based solely on the team's performance. It would be difficult to find another team in the world that would fire a new coach who has only lost three matches since the start of the season, especially one whose team is the only club to have won all of their matches in the 2022/23 Champions League. However, reports indicate that Bayern will be parting ways with coach Julian Nagelsmann on March 24.

The decision surprised everyone

The decision to dismiss Nagelsmann has come as a surprise to many. When he was appointed over two years ago to lead Bayern Munich, it seemed like a logical choice. At the age of 33, Nagelsmann was young and talented, and like many other top German players and coaches, it was only a matter of time before he worked at the Allianz Arena. However, in Bavaria, Nagelsmann has faced the challenges that come with the coaching profession.

It's worth noting that as of now, Bayern Munich's media team has not made any official announcements regarding Nagelsmann's dismissal. This lack of preparedness or communication from the German club's media suggests that the decision to sack Nagelsmann was sudden.

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Following Portugal's match in the EURO 2024 qualifying round on the morning of March 24 (Hanoi time), defender Joao Cancelo revealed that he had only just found out about Nagelsmann's dismissal. "I know I won't see Nagelsmann again when I return to Munich, so I want to thank him for giving me the opportunity to come to Bayern," he added.

Nagelsmann only knew he was fired through the media

Reports suggest that Nagelsmann was not officially notified of his dismissal by the team's leadership and only found out through the media. Bild explained that the decision to dismiss Nagelsmann was made by Bayern's leadership after assessing the club's performance during the two years that the German coach was in charge.

Although Bayern lost 1-2 to Bayer Leverkusen on March 19 in the 25th round of the Bundesliga, they are still considered by experts to be the leading candidates for the German championship. With only a 1-point difference between them and the current leaders Dortmund, Bayern has not lost control in the Bundesliga race and their performance has not been so poor as to warrant the dismissal of the coach.

This season, Bayern Munich's performance in the Champions League has been particularly impressive, with the team being the only one to have won all of their matches in Europe's top leagues. In the round of 16, Coach Nagelsmann's team convincingly overcame PSG and emerged as the top contenders for the championship.

Under Coach Nagelsmann, Bayern has played 37 games this season, scoring 112 goals and suffering only 3 defeats across all competitions. If it weren't for serious behind-the-scenes issues, very few teams would consider firing their head coach at such a critical stage of the season.

Is there an internal conflict?

The plan for dismissal has been in place for a long time

Earlier this year, Bayern Munich experienced a period of poor form, drawing three consecutive matches in the Bundesliga. German media reported that the club's leadership had considered sacking Coach Nagelsmann at that time but ultimately gave the young coach more opportunities. Bayern eventually overcame their slump with victories in the Bundesliga, German Cup, and Champions League.

Bayern Munich lost 0-5 to Monchengladbach

The decision to dismiss Nagelsmann may also have been influenced by Bayern's poor performance in the Champions League last season. Despite an impressive start to the season, the German team was eliminated in the round of 16 by Villarreal. In the national cup competition last season, the Bavarian club also suffered a shocking 0-5 defeat against Borussia Monchengladbach in the second round.

The lack of consistency in form or conflict?

The main reason cited for Bayern's decision to part ways with coach Nagelsmann is reportedly due to the lack of consistency in the team's performance. The coach's ability to handle big clubs and perform in important matches has also been questioned. There have been no rumors of conflicts between coach Nagelsmann and the Bayern leadership or any issues with his control of the team. However, it's possible that these factors could have contributed to the club's decision to let him go.

Just last week, coach Nagelsmann expressed frustration with the leak of the club's tactics to the press. He strongly condemned those responsible, saying "I hope those who did this will be ashamed to look at themselves in the mirror."

Coach Nagelsmann did not hesitate to speak frankly about many issues

Despite his strong personality and outspoken nature, coach Nagelsmann has not caused any issues during his two-year tenure at Bayern. Even Bayern President Herbert Hainer praised the coach after the draw for the Champions League quarter-finals. However, Bayern's high standards for winning may have led to the sudden decision to replace Nagelsmann with Thomas Tuchel, another talented coach with a proven track record in the Champions League, possibly viewed as a better option for the German club. This decision also reveals Bayern's willingness to abandon their long-term plan and opt for rejuvenation. It highlights the "FC Hollywood" nature of the club that has persisted over the years.

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The Bundesliga giants dismissed head coach Thomas Tuchel in late February. The club's director of sport suggested that a decision would be reached by the end of the month.