Thomas Tuchel, manager of Bayern Munich, looks on during the Bundesliga game against Union Berlin at An der Alten Foersterei in Berlin, Germany, April 20, 2024. /CFP
A number of Bayern Munich supporters have called on the club to continue with Thomas Tuchel as manager, with the club having earlier announced that he will leave at the end of this season. A petition titled "We want Juppel [Tuchel] and not Rangnick!" was recently launched and has garnered over 14,000 signatures.
"With all due respect to candidates like Emery or Rangnick, these coaches can't hold a candle to 'Juppel,'" the petition said. "Considering that the 'Finale Dahoam' [the Allianz Arena's 2025 hosting of the Champions League final] will take place next season, Bayern Munich should actually be glad to have such an outstanding Champions League coach like TT."
Ralf Rangnick, manager of the Austrian national team, confirmed on Wednesday that he had been contacted by Bayern. He, however, didn't reveal his own intentions about the possibility of joining the Bavarian giants. Rangnick's poor managerial record at Manchester United in the 2021-22 season in particular has concerned some Bayern fans.
Meanwhile, though Bayern lost the 2023-24 Bundesliga title to Bayer 04 Leverkusen, they made the UEFA Champions League semifinals after knocking out Arsenal, keeping alive hopes of regaining the European crown. The European campaign is being cited by these Bayern fans as a reason behind their wish to see Tuchel continue.
Thomas Tuchel (L), manager of Bayern Munich, talks to player Thomas Muller during the Bundesliga game against Union Berlin at An der Alten Foersterei in Berlin, Germany, April 20, 2024. /CFP
Nonetheless, Tuchel didn't seem interested in changing his mind. "Even though this topic is good for me when they [the fans] wish you to stay, it's not something that is a priority," he said at a press conference on Friday. "It isn't allowed to be a priority. In the next 11 days, it's only about football, nothing else. Whether it's pleasant or unpleasant, I don't allow myself to be influenced by it."
Bayern will host Eintracht Frankfurt at the Allianz Arena on Saturday. They lost 5-1 on the road in the reverse fixture earlier this season, in December. Failing to win the Bundesliga title was one thing, but finishing the season lower than the top two in the Bundesliga is unlikely to go down well at Bayern, given their dominance domestically. They are currently in the second place on the table, only three points above No. 3 VfB Stuttgart, with four more games to go.
"Tomorrow we have a test [against Frankfurt], and either we are distracted or we find solutions. Put on ear plugs or headphones and study for the test. That is my task," Tuchel said.