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Tottenham warned about Julian Nagelsmann 'problems' as Bayern Munich chief speaks out
Tottenham are expected to replace Antonio Conte before domestic action resumes.
Tottenham manager Antoni Conte reviews Southampton draw
Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has spoken out on disciplinary issues involving Julian Nagelsmann amid links to Tottenham's managerial hotseat. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy could swoop for the axed Bayern boss before the end of the international break, with Antonio Conte thought to be living on borrowed time in north London.
Nagelsmann was unexpectedly sacked this week following Bayern's 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen. He oversaw victories in all three of his other matches in March, including a second-leg Champions League knockout triumph over French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
Bayern acted quickly in appointing former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel as his replacement. A coach of Nagelsmann's pedigree is unlikely to be out of work for long, however, and Spurs are reportedly keen to initiate talks.
Salihamidzic may have thrown a spanner in the works, however, by admitting that Nagelsmann and Bayern chiefs butted heads during his two-year spell in the dugout.
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"Of course there were problems — and we had a few discipline issues," he told Sport1. "Julian Nagelsmann is a very good coach. But we had a few problems." Despite the unrest behind the scenes, Salihamidzic went on to admit that dismissing the 35-year-old was a tough call to make.
"It was an emotionally difficult decision, especially for me, who sat in the dressing room with Julian every day. When it's that trusting and when you have that kind of bond, it's very difficult to make a decision like that.
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"We always wanted to be behind Julian until the last second. Then, when we analyzed it, we noticed that the trend just wasn't going up anymore - and only then did we contact Thomas Tuchel. We met for the first time on Tuesday – and then the process went very quickly."
Convincing Nagelsmann to sign would be seen as a huge coup for Spurs, and his appointment would likely go down well among the fanbase after a period of frustration under Conte. The German became a top-flight manager while still in his twenties, enjoying spells with Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig before joining Bayern in 2021.
Nagelsmann left the Bavarian giants one point off the top of the Bundesliga, having lost just three of 25 league matches this campaign. Rumours indicate that he has an affinity for Tottenham and owns a replica shirt, stemming from his admiration of Mauricio Pochettino's free-flowing side.
Conte has been in Italy since watching his side blow a two-goal cushion against Southampton last weekend, with Ryan Mason and Cristian Stellini taking training in his absence. Levy has supposedly left players and staff in the dark over what he plans to do next.