Bayern Munich squandered a two-goal lead to go down 4-2 at Hoffenheim thanks to a hat-trick from Andrej Kramaric in the Bundesliga final on Saturday, ending a disappointing season in third place as head coach Thomas Tuchel retired.
Saturday's performance was indicative of Bayern's first season without a trophy in more than a decade, having played outstandingly to reach the Champions League semi-finals but also falling prey to weaker opponents, including Saarbruecken of third division that beat them in the German Cup.
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Tuchel said he was unhappy with his team's lack of concentration in his last game in charge.
“We started very well, but then we made a series of individual mistakes,” Tuchel said in a brief press conference.
The 50-year-old coach leaves Bayern after just over a year in charge.
Opening goals from Mathys Tel and Alphonso Davies put an injury-depleted Bayern 2-0 up after six minutes.
They were without striker Harry Kane, back in England to treat an injury before Euro 2024, or Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané.
Hoffenheim did not give up and two minutes later scored a goal thanks to German international Maximilian Beier, and the hosts gradually lost the initial rhythm of the match.
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“In the second half we played well for 15 minutes, but then there was again a series of individual errors and loss of possession,” Tuchel said. “We lost a two-goal lead in a completely unnecessary and bitter defeat.”
Croatian international Kramaric scored a stunning hat-trick in 19 minutes with Bayern's defense in shambles, to send them into third place in the standings with 72 points.
“This happens very often. It happened in Stuttgart, where we conceded two goals at the last moment. [for a 3-1 defeat]. In Heidenheim the same [for a 3-2 loss], same here. This happens too often,” Tuchel said.
“I have an explanation for that, but it's not for the public.”
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Tuchel was told in February that he would leave at the end of the season, a year before his contract ended. He confirmed there were talks last week to potentially reverse that decision, but no agreement was reached.
Bayern are struggling to find his successor after several other coaches, including Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso, Austria coach Ralf Rangnick and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, opted to remain in their positions.
Bayer Leverkusen took first place with 90 points. Stuttgart finished second with 73 points after defeating Borussia Mönchengladbach 4-0, while Bayern finished third with 72 points.
