Soccer

Bayern Munich sacks Ancelotti after defeat at PSG

by

Carlo Campo

Charles Platiau / Reuters

Carlo Ancelotti is history at Bayern Munich.

On Thursday, following Bayern’s 3-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain – its biggest loss in the Champions League’s group stage in 21 years – the German club parted company with Ancelotti as a result of internal discussions. Willy Sagnol will take charge of training and act as caretaker coach for its game at Hertha Berlin on Sunday.

“Our team’s performances since the start of the season have not met expectations,” Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern’s executive board chairman, said. “The match in Paris clearly showed we had to take immediate action. Hasan Salihamidzic and I met Carlo today for full and frank discussions where we informed him of our decision. I’d like to thank Carlo for his time working with us and I’m sorry about the way it has developed. Carlo is my friend and he will remain so, but we had to take a professional decision in the interests of FC Bayern. I expect the team to produce a positive response and show absolute determination to achieve our targets for the season.”

Bayern also parted company with Ancelotti’s staff, including Davide Ancelotti, Giovanni Mauri, Francesco Mauri, and Mino Fulco.

Ancelotti replaced Pep Guardiola as Bayern’s manager at the end of the 2015-16 season, and guided the club to the 2016-17 Bundesliga title.

Bayern’s first six games of the 2017-18 Bundesliga season were highlighted by a 2-0 defeat at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and a 2-2 draw versus VfL Wolfsburg.

Speaking after Bayern’s loss at PSG, Ancelotti declared: “We had to attack and PSG just waited for the chance to play on the break. We had some good chances but were unable to find the right balance to prevent counter-attacks. That was the key factor. We shouldn’t be surprised PSG play to their strengths when we go 1-0 down straightaway.”

No manager in Bayern’s history can claim to have been sacked as early in the season as Ancelotti, who beat Jupp Heynckes, dismissed on Oct. 4, 1991. Only four managers parted ways with the club before season’s end, including Felix Magath, Jurgen Klinsmann, and Louis van Gaal.