Bayern Munich manager, Thomas Tuchel has insisted that he has sympathy for his fellow Manchester United counterpart, Erik ten Hag after the Red Devils’ exit from the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Tuchel said this while pinpointing that Ten Hag was hampered by injuries to key Manchester United players as Bayern Munich defeated the Premier League club 1-0 at Old Trafford.
According to the former Chelsea coach, Man United’s team currently lacks ‘quality, personality and width’.
Recall that Kingsley Coman’s second-half goal sealed the victory for Bayern Munich, who finished eight points clear of second-placed FC Copenhagen at the top of Group A.
Several Man United key players, including Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount didn’t play against Bayern.
When asked if he has sympathy for Ten Hag after Man United’s Champions League exit, Tuchel said at his post-match press conference: “Almost always I feel sympathy for the other coach.
“But within competition we try everything to win our matches, this is why we are and this is what it is, these are the rules of high-level sports, we play at the highest level to win our matches.
“Of course I have sympathy. I think he has a lot of key players injured for a decisive match now, that you can see, they lack this kind of personality and also the quality and maybe the width to change games from the bench. I think you could see that.
“Yeah, it’s not an easy time but I’m pretty sure he knows what to do next, he knows how to influence his team, he does not need my advice. He does not need my clapping on the shoulders. He is experienced enough to go through it.”