'It offends me deeply': Thomas Tuchel slams criticism from Bayern Munich chief

Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel has fired back at criticism from the club's honorary president Uli Hoeness.

Tuchel's side host Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash on Tuesday but the build-up to the game has been dominated by Hoeness' claims that Tuchel does not have the ability or the desire to improve players and instead only wants new signings.

Hoeness' criticism comes after close to 20,000 fans signed a petition urging Tuchel to remain at the club beyond his season - something which now seems impossible after this latest war of words.

"It offends me deeply as a coach," Tuchel said in response to Hoeness' comments.

"If we have proven something in the coaching team over the last 15 years, it is that young players - especially from the academy - always have a place with us in training and, through performance, always have a place on the pitch.

"And by the way, we have now proven that! I have very little understanding of it. I find it absolutely baseless!

"This is actually so far away from reality that I wouldn't have reacted to it at all if it hadn't come from Uli. The fact that comes from our boss before Real gives it a different flavour."

kicker contacted Hoeness in search of a response to Tuchel's reply, and the honorary Bayern president refused to back down.

While Hoeness is reported to have insisted the feud has been "exaggerated by the media", he once again stood be his comments and insisted Tuchel is more interested in signing players than developing his current squad.

Hoeness later added that he was "determined to make his opinion clearer again".

Amid the turmoil, Bayern are looking to wrap up a deal to hire Austria manager Ralf Rangnick to replace Tuchel at the end of the season.

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