Tuchel and Nagelsmann's tangled paths cross again: I don't consider him my mentor

Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann have once again crossed paths in the latest chapter of a relationship that dates back to 2006, when Nagelsmann was playing for Augsburg's youth team under Tuchel.

It was then, almost unbeknownst to him, that his promising career in the dugout began.

Nagelsmann's playing career was coming to an end due to a serious knee injury and Tuchel offered him the chance to combine his role as a player with that of a scout.

Nagelsmann and Tuchel: A complicated relationship

Even though both men's careers have been linked by their beginnings together, Nagelsmann has tried to play down the importance of Tuchel - who has now replaced him at Bayern Munich - in his career.

"I was only Thomas Tuchel's player, nothing else," Nagelsmann said ahead of the RB Leipzig vs PSG game that would decide a place in the final of the 2020 Champions League.

"It's a subject that is being given too much hype. I was playing for the Augsburg youth team, but I was carrying injuries from my time at 1860 Munich.

"At that point I had to make a choice. Either I looked for another job to finance my university studies or I continued my involvement as a scout.

"It was an unusual position in those leagues and Thomas was impressed.

"That was the first step in my career and I'm delighted.

"Then I had an offer to return to 1860 Munich as a coach, but Thomas had nothing to do with that.

"It was impossible to imagine that the two of us would meet in a Champions League semi-final."

Nagelsmann doesn't consider Tuchel his mentor

Nagelsmann hasn't offered much praise to his former coach, when speaking in interviews.

"I don't consider him my mentor because our relationship was too pragmatic," he said.

Equally, Tuchel's description of Nagelsmann was respectful, but far from flattering.

"He was always curious," Tuchel said bluntly when asked about the man he has now replaced at Bayern Munich.

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