Thomas Tuchel, newly appointed as Bayern Munich head coach, wants to add Chelsea and Portugal coach Anthony Barry to his coaching staff, after the Bundesliga giants shockingly sacked Julien Nagelsmann.
Tuchel trusted allies Zsolt Low and Arno Michels are expected to join him him but the Telegraph reports the German gaffer is also targeting Barry to bolster his backroom team and Chelsea are now bracing themselves for a battle to keep their highly-rated coach. It was Frank Lampard who brought Barry to the club as the latter had previously worked as the assistant manager to Paul Cook at Wigan and enjoyed a playing career in the lower league’s with clubs such as Yeovil and Accrington Stanley.
After Lampard’s departure, the 36-year-old remained at the club and continued under Tuchel as Chelsea won the Champions League. He then remained at Stamford Bridge and served as part of Graham Potter’s staff following the German’s unexpected sacking.
Barry also has invaluable international experience having worked with the Republic of Ireland before joining Roberto Martinez in a part-time capacity firstly with Belgium, and now as part of Portugal’s coaching set-up.
Tuchel apparently rates Barry extremely highly and is most desirous of working with the coach once again although there is no indication yet at this juncture whether there is interest on Barry’s part on joining Tuchel at Bayern.
For that matter, it is also uncertain if Chelsea would allow their former German gaffer to speak to him about heading off to Germany.
Former Bayern manager Nagelsmann was unexpectedly relieved of his services. CEO Oliver Kahn admitted the club was forced to act after watching ‘big fluctuations in our performances’ as the German giants currently trail Borussia Dortmund by a point at the top of the Bundesliga and Tuchel will come face-to-face with his former club in his first game in charge.
There is also a likelihood of Tuchel facing a return to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League if his new squad overcomes Manchester City and the Blues defeat Real Madrid in their quarter-final clashes.