Thomas Tuchel ‘is NOT a fan of Bayern Munich star signed for £68m a year ago’… with ‘big-name player picked out as being slow in build-up and guilty of too many sideways passes’

• Thomas Tuchel is reported to be losing patience with one Bayern Munich star 
• The player in question has been criticised for his reluctance to pass vertically 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off 

Thomas Tuchel is already frustrated with Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, according to reports, with the centre back’s reluctance to pass vertically criticised.

De Ligt joined the reigning Bundesliga champions in a £68million move from Juventus just last year, penning a lucrative long-term contract until 2027. 

After winning the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia in Turin, the Netherlands international was open to the switch to Germany and snubbed Chelsea’s interest.

However, after only one full campaign with Bayern, De Ligt has now found himself as Tuchel’s third-choice central defender, behind Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano.

And now, the exact reasons behind his limited game time this year have been revealed by tz, a Munich-based tabloid with regular access to Bayern matches.

Thomas Tuchel has reportedly taken issue with Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt

Just a year after joining the club, De Ligt has been criticised for his errors during build-up

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The publication has suggested Tuchel has taken issue with De Ligt’s style of play, believing that he is too slow in the build-up and guilty of too many sideways passes.

Since replacing Julian Nagelsmann in the hot seat after his shock dismissal, Tuchel has tasked his team with playing through the lines vertically and with speed.

As a result of the finger pointing at De Ligt for resting on his laurels, Kim and Upamecano, both of whom are accomplished passers, have jumped ahead of him.

It is said, though, that the undaunted 24-year-old is aware of his shortcomings in possession and is ready to embrace the gauntlet laid out for him by his manager.

Crucially, De Ligt’s fighting spirit is reportedly admired by the club hierarchy. 

De Ligt has seemingly understood Tuchel’s reluctance to play him, having pointed toward his calf injury and admitted ‘you have to be careful not to get injured again’. 

Both summer signing Kim Min-jae (centre) and Dayot Upamecano (right) are preferred choices

De Ligt played just 45 minutes of Bayern’s DFL-Supercup defeat before being hauled off

Tuchel has accused the defender of missing ‘a bit of rhythm, a bit of form, a bit of confidence’ and described Kim and Upamecano as ‘the new basis’ for his side. 

So far this season, former Ajax man De Ligt has played an overall total of 76 minutes despite making four appearances, three of which came in the Bundesliga.

Tuchel introduced De Ligt for 22 minutes at Werder Bremen, while he was restricted to less than 10 minutes against FC Augsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach.

In the DFL-Supercup defeat by RB Leipzig, meanwhile, he was handed one half’s worth of action before being hauled off with Bayern two goals down at the break.

Nevertheless, fresh from featuring in both of the Netherlands’ international fixtures during the break, De Ligt will hope for a shock start when Bayern return to action.

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