'Lost a bit': Why Thomas Tuchel previously criticised Mathys Tel at Bayern as Arsenal and Tottenham eye moves
Yesterday at 12:45 PM
Suddenly, the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are all vying for the signature of Bayern Munich striker Mathys Tel who is free to leave the Bundesliga.
19-year-old Tel moved to Bayern back in 2022 when he had realistic ambitions to replace Robert Lewandowski who had just departed for Barcelona.
Given he was 17 when he signed for Bayern, the Frenchman was initially back-up to Eric Choupo-Moting in his first season at the club.
Then, when Thomas Tuchel replaced Julian Nagelsmann the season after, Harry Kane also arrived from Tottenham.
As a result, Tel no longer had any genuine prospect of becoming Bayern's starting striker, as long as Kane was around.
Kane praised Tel for his attitude, and the young striker actually hailed the England international as his role model.
But things were still frustrating for the Frenchman under Tuchel.
Thomas Tuchel’s advice for Mathys Tel at Bayern Munich
In Tel's only full season under Tuchel in 2023/24, the youngster scored 10 goals and provided seven assists in 41 appearances in all competitions, not bad numbers considering he was often a substitute.
However, Tel wasn't at his best in the second half of that season at the beginning of 2024, leading to some criticism turned advice from Tuchel.
Speaking at his press conference before Bayern faced Lazio in the Champions League in February of that year, Tuchel was asked about Tel's drop in form and provided a candid response.
He said: "He has lost a bit of his momentum. He is no longer as aggressive when he comes. He no longer has the absolute wild urge to go for the goal.
“It probably has something to do with self-confidence. It may also have something to do with the fact that when you achieve so much, when you score so many decisive goals, you may be demanding too much of yourself.
“He’s getting better in training again. He’s scoring more goals in training again. It’s a completely normal process for such a young guy. It’s totally normal that there are waves from time to time.
“Nothing has changed for him. He has to take every minute as if it were his first and his last – that’s the only way it works.
"We need his carefree attitude and his desire to do something even in ten, thirteen, twenty minutes. We will not stop trusting him.”
Arsenal already preparing to make an offer for Tel
Of course, it's now being reported that Arsenal are readying a bid for Tel, such is their appetite to win the race for the Bayern striker.
Tel has been likened to Thierry Henry in the past, even if he has a long, long way to go to match that level of comparison.
In terms of Arsenal’s competition for the Frenchman, Spurs and Chelsea have also been credited with strong interest.
Tel wasn't keen on Chelsea earlier this month given the level of competition at the club.
But there seems to be a realistic prospect of playing time for the striker on both sides of north London, a transfer saga which could captivate attention before deadline day.
