Newly-appointed Bayern Munich manager, Thomas Tuchel, says he still feels hurt being sacked by Chelsea.
The German tactician was dismissed last September and was replaced by Graham Potter who was previously in charge at Brighton & Hove Albion.
Tuchel won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, less than six months into his job during the second half of the 2020-21 season. He also won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
The 49-year-old recounted the moments leading to his dismissal at Stamford Bridge, describing it as a shock.
“It was a shock,” Tuchel said. “I felt it, strangely, when I drove to the training centre.
“The meeting we had felt unusual – it turned out to be very short. It lasted three to five minutes.
“The decision had been made and, honestly, it was a shock for all of us. I was also not in the mood to talk longer.
“We had a feeling that we were in the right spot at the right time. We felt that we could achieve big things and we wanted to stay longer – it was as simple as that.
“It still hurts in a way. I’m not able to see these people on a daily basis. I love this job. I have a passion for it.
“We built an extraordinary bond in the circumstances. We started there during Covid, during Brexit – then came the change of ownership.
“We were a strong, strong group and it wasn’t in my hands to take this decision. I was no longer part of this group, a group that felt like a family.”
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— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) March 30, 2023
Tuchel was appointed as Bayern manager last week after the departure of Julian Nagelsmann.
He will make his managerial bow in the Bavarian capital when he faces his former club Borussia Dortmund at the Allianz Arena on Saturday evening.
It is a game that could determine the fate of Bundesliga title race as Dortmund lead the table one point clear of Bayern.
