Former Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has admitted that he regrets sacking head coach Thomas Tuchel in 2017, according to a recent interview with German magazine Sport Bild.
Just days after having guided the BVB to a DFB Pokal Cup, Tuchel was given the boot after two seasons at the helm as the relations between him and the management was already on the rocks at that point.
Following a horrific attack on Dortmund's team bus in April that year, Tuchel's decision to proceed with their Champions League tie against AS Monaco just a day later didn't go down well with Watzke and the board.
Dortmund's subsequent exit at the hands of the Ligue 1 side didn't exactly serve to thaw the tensions within the club, while disagreements between them over transfer policy had also served to escalate the rift.
Former Borussia Dortmund CEO regrets sacking Tuchel
However, over eight years on from Tuchel's sacking, Watzke has reflected on that episode and expressed his regrets, saying he wouldn't sacked the manager if similar circumstances prevailed today. In the interview, the former Dortmund CEO revealed:
"“Looking back, I don’t think it would have come to this without the attack. And in hindsight, I have to say: today, I probably wouldn’t sack Thomas Tuchel. But at the time, because of this situation, we had torn ourselves apart to such an extent that, on a human level, it probably wouldn’t have worked out anymore.""Hans-Joachim Watzke
Peter Bosz was appointed as the next permanent manager, but following a strong start to the league campaign, Dortmund went through a form slump. After a run of 12 winless games in all competitions, Bosz was ousted in December 2017. Peter Stoger replaced him at the helm but departed after only 19 games in charge.
Suffice to say, Dortmund struggled after Tuchel left and as destiny would have it, he came back to haunt them in 2020 when his PSG team knocked out Die Borussen from the round of 16 of the Champions League.
But Watzke asserted that relations with him have since rekindled and even heaped praise on Tuchel.
"“Today, I get along well with Thomas again. We’ve talked it through. And I have to say: he is an outstanding coach.”"Hans-Joachim Watzke
Thomas Tuchel is currently the manager of England's national football team and just guided them to the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a 100% win record in the qualifiers.