Thomas Tuchel's management style could "lead to problems" for England as Bayern Munich legend Philipp Lahm took aim at the German coach.
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England won first two games under TuchelPlayers full of praise for new managerLahm sees problems in the Three Lions' futureFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Tuchel's career as Three Lions boss is off to a good start, having guided his team to wins against Albania and Latvia in World Cup qualifying. The former Chelsea, Bayern and Borussia Dortmund boss has made it clear to the Three Lions players that he wants to win the World Cup next year, while Harry Kane and Morgan Rogers praised the new manager after Monday's win at Wembley.
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However, ex-Germany and Bayern right-back Lahm says Tuchel's history suggests things are likely to turn sour within the national team. Despite Tuchel having guided Chelsea to Champions League glory just a year after guiding Paris Saint-Germain to the final, World Cup winner Lahm says the 51-year-old's personal relationships often result in his downfall.
WHAT LAHM SAID
"No matter where he works, tensions seem to arise at some point. Apart from Mainz (2009 to 2014), Tuchel has never stayed anywhere for three years," he wrote in a column for .
"His biggest problem at Bayern was also not a sporting one, but the lack of connection with leading players such as Thomas Muller or Leon Goretzka, and the chemistry with Harry Kane was probably not perfect either. In the summer of 2023, when he demanded a new ‘holding No 6’ in midfield, he annoyed Joshua Kimmich by telling the media that Kimmich didn’t have the defensive DNA for the role.
"In Munich, a coach has to be diplomatic or clever. Pep Guardiola and Vincent Kompany never express dissatisfaction publicly. Tuchel tends to. That can lead to problems."
TROUBLE AHEAD FOR ENGLAND & TUCHEL?
Lahm believes that Tuchel's inability to avoid conflict will cause problems at international level, saying he could end up damaging the mood within the England squad.
"A national coach must be a moderator with a great feel for his players," he added. "He must create a hierarchy by identifying and then strengthening leaders within the group. Southgate knew how to create a harmonious environment. Tuchel, on the other hand, is more demanding and much more of a perfectionist. His tendency towards conflict – and in public – could be damaging."
