Lothar Matthäus on Thomas Tuchel appointment, Der Klassiker, Bayern's Champions League hopes and more

The legend gave his opinions on Der Klassiker and Bayern Munich's ongoing season in a candid conversation

Lothar Matthäus is a famous name in world football. The former professional is regarded as one of the best ever to grace the game. He was a sensational player for the German national team and took to the field for teams such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Inter Milan.

Lothar Matthäus also won the highly regarded Ballon d'Or award in 1990. The German legend also won the FIFA World Cup 1990 and EURO 1980 with Germany, alongside many trophies for Bayern such as the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup. He also won the UEFA Cup with both Bayern and Inter Milan.

The German legend (Lothar Matthäus) took part in a very insightful and candid conversation with KhelNow where he talked about the exciting Bundesliga title race, Der Klassiker (Bayern Munich vs Dortmund), BVB's young sensation Jude Bellingham, the sacking of Julian Nagelsmann, the appointment of Thomas Tuchel, Bayern's Champions League hopes and more.

Here are the excerpts from the exclusive interview with legendary German footballer Lothar Matthäus:

Exciting Bundesliga title race

Dortmund are leading the Bundesliga title race, with Bayern just one point behind BVB at the top of the league table, both sides have gone neck to neck and make it one of the most exciting title race in Europe this season. Talking about the title race, Lothar Matthäus said;

"Not only on the top, everywhere. This makes the Bundesliga interesting. We have not only a game for the first place, we have the same very important and interesting games for the 16th, 17th, and 18th place. Maybe we have a lot of games where the teams or the clubs fighting to go to the Champions League because the Champions League is very interesting because of the money, economy positions. And for this, I think we are talking always about the championship, but we have to see the Bundes League generally.

And the Bundesliga is in the last years, especially what you asked me for the first place was a little bit not so interesting, maybe because was too much, too strong, dominated the championship. But this year, we have the final games everywhere. And for this, each game, each week is like a final game from the feeling for each club. Tomorrow on Saturday, we have nine games. And when I see nine games, I see six, seven games were important for the top for the first five, six places and for the last three. And this make the Bundesliga so interesting for the fans all around the world."

Favourites for Der Klassiker (Bayern Munich vs Dortmund)

Bayern Munich host the league leaders in the Bundesliga on Saturday, talking about the favourites for the Der Klassiker, he said:

"Bayern Munich in the national competition are always a favourite. It doesn't matter which team. It doesn't matter because Bayern Munich has first economy position. It's number one for Bavaria. What is they can buy a lot of players and I think they spent a lot of money on transfers in the last two, two and a half years, especially for the defence, for five new players around 250 million.

But this is like this. And Bayern Munich has not only the first 11, they have 20 national team players. And I think in this way they have surely better players. But this doesn't mean the better player will win the game. They have to work together. And Dortmund was doing this very well. And for this, Dortmund is now on the top."

Not so perfect Bayern Munich season

FCB are currently 2nd in the German top flight and have reached the Quarter finals of the Champions League. But the performances have been inconsistent at times, talking about this Matthäus said:

"Not perfect. That was not performed like in the years before. And for this, they're missing a couple of points, especially in 2023. I think I'm right when I say in 2023, Dortmund has 10 points better than Bayer Munich. And this show, Bayer Muniq was not making their homework. They didn't make the results. And for this, we have this situation for the special game on Saturday, the first against the second. But normally it was always opposite. Dortmund was the second in the last 10 years. Now it's Bayer Muniq and I know the Bayern mentality.

I know Bayern players. They're happy to have this game on Saturday to show not only themselves, but to show everybody who is the best team in Germany. And for this, Bavaria will be for me the favorite for the game in the home stadium and with the experience. Bavaria players has a lot of experience, not only because of the Bundesliga games. They won a lot of titles in the last 10 years. They're not only the titles in Germany, it's the same two times in the Champions League. And with this result, you can go in this game because they know which game is coming on Saturday."

"This is a game that they have to win and they like to win it and for this they are the favourite. Okay. Sure, the Dortmund player will want to win too. But I think the mentality of the Bayern players, especially now with the new coach, is a little bit higher than the situation for Dortmund. They will fight for everything on Saturday."

Thomas Tuchel appointment

The defending champions sacked Julian Naglesmann and appointed Thomas Tuchel as the new head coach, he said;

"Yes. Julian was here 20 months and sure, he had a problem or he had problems with a couple of things in Muniq. Maybe about his career, he's a young coach. He doesn't have this experience in the big clubs like Thomas Tuchel. Thomas Tuchel was coaching Chelsea and PSG.

These teams are very good players, high level players. We speak about Neymar, Mbappe, and Thiago Silva in Chelsea. Big clubs, big pressure for him. Julian Nagelsmann was coming from smaller clubs like Hoffenheim and Leipzig. Thomas Tuchel, he was working in last three, four years with the best players in the world. And I think this can be a favour for Thomas Tuchel, he has this experience what Julian has to get in the future."

Past allegiance with Dortmund

Thomas Tuchel managed Dortmund from 2015 to 2017 and is now managing Bayer Munich, talking about this Lothar Matthäus said:

"No problem for Bayern Munich. I was the same player from Borussia Mönchengladbach. And then you come to Bayern, you come with this family. They like to see you give your best. And when he wears the red shirts, they will laugh with him and like your fine guest, like Ottmar Hitzfeld, like all the great coaches who have coached Munich in the past."

Title decider

With just one point separating the top two teams, Saturday's Der Klassiker could turn out to be the title decider, on this Lothar Matthäus said:

"A very difficult question. But I think if Dortmund will win, they go 4 points ahead, then it's Dortmund the favourite for the title. When Bayern will win the game, then it's Bayern the favourite for the title. And when it's a draw, then it's a 50-50 game. But when I am on Dortmund's side and I make a draw and stay on the top, I think this can be a very good result for Dortmund. They have to be happy. But Munich cannot be happy with a draw."

Thomas Tuchel's first game in charge

The German manager will be taking charge of his first Bayern game this Saturday against Borussia Dortmund. Talking about the expected change if players and tactics, Lothar Matthäus said:

"I hope he has all the players he needs, but sure, Hernández can play. Goretzka got injured yesterday. Nobody knows what's happened with him. I think he will be playing a system like in Chelsea with three in the defense, two on the wing, very high up, and two number six like Goretzka and Kimmich, but Goretzka maybe can play. And then the two on the half left and the half right can be Musiala, can be Koman, can be Sane, can be Gnabry. And whenEric Maxim Choupo-Moting is ready to play, I think he play with him like a number 9."

"Is a system like he played the last time in Chelsea. And Bayer Muniq, it was the same to play with three in the defence, Pavard, Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt. This can be a little bit of the system. Or he can play the same and the player notices them too. He can play a little bit more offence with 4-2-3-1."

Champions League tie against Manchester City

The Bundesliga giants have a very big Quarter finals game coming up in the UEFA Champions League against Premier League giants Manchester City. Regarding this he said:

"Yeah, sure. Each good result gives your power, give your confidence. And I think they're not playing only against each other on Saturday. They play the same for the next weeks because when you have good results, you have a good atmosphere in the team, in the club. You can read every day in social media and in the newspaper more about the positive things. And this can motivate you for the next two months because two months is very important. Not only for Bayern Munich, it's the same for Dortmund."

Jan Sommer replacing Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer sustaining a leg injury while away on a mid-season skiing holiday and the club signed Jan Sommer to replace the German international. Speaking about the same, he said;

"He is one of the best gk in Europe, he is one of the best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga. He was great for Borussia Mönchengladbach. It was a great signing for Bayern to take him for Neuer. Neuer is injured till the summer and I think Summer has experience, he is very similar to Neuer. This is very imp for Bayern Munich to have 11 feet players on the field. Sommer and Neuer are very good with the feet. "

Match Prediction

As the final question, the German legend made his prediction for the Der Klassiker.

"I think Bayern Munich will win the game with 2 goals difference."