Bayern Munich 'angrily refute' Thomas Tuchel exit rumours after shock Barcelona link following Xavi's bombshell announcement he will leaving the club at the end of the season

Bayern Munch have shutdown reports linking Thomas Tuchel with the soon-to-be vacant managerial job at Barcelona, stating they will 'no longer accept such unobjective statements' about their head coach. 

Tuchel was linked with the job at Barcelona after speaking highly about the Spanish league and how he enjoys working with Spanish players following the news of Xavi's pending departure.

Xavi shocked football the world by announcing his decision to step down from his role as the Barcelona manager at the end of the season after losing 5-3 at home to Villarreal. 

Tuchel was been named as one of the favourites to replace Xavi after he was heard praising LaLiga and its players at an event following the former Barcelona captain's announcement. 

However, Bayern Munich have now dismissed such rumours, claiming Tuchel's words had been misrepresented and that he was simply discussing previous experiences abroad at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. 

Bayern Munch have shutdown reports linking Thomas Tuchel (pictured above) with the soon-to-be vacant managerial job at Barcelona

‘On Sunday, as part of a fan club visit, our head coach Thomas Tuchel was asked by supporters about his coaching career and his previous experiences abroad at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, and naturally provided information about this during the discussion,’ the statement read.

‘He also answered general questions from fans about Spain as a footballing country. He never spoke about Xavi Hernández and his successor, as was falsely claimed afterwards.'

The statement finished by saying: ‘We will no longer accept such unobjective statements directed against our coach, which always come from the same place.’

Bayern released the above statement following Tuchel's comments at a fan event on Sunday. The German manager was heard saying: 'Moving abroad would appeal to me again.

'Spain has an extraordinary league. From my perspective, and based on my experience working with Spaniards, they are characterised by a tremendous amount of self-confidence.'

The former Chelsea boss went on to add: 'When you speak with Spanish players, I quickly get the sense that you are engaging with the person.' 

His comments came less than 24 hours after Xavi announced he would be stepping down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season, with Tuchel himself under pressure at Bayern after dropping points in the title race in recent weeks.

While Tuchel did manage to win Bayern the Bundesliga last season after Julian Nagelsmann's shock sacking, talk of a move away from the club has left some fans furious. 

Former Liverpool defender Didi Hamann was one of those who lashed out at the former Chelsea boss, labelling his appointment as Bayern's 'biggest misunderstanding since Jurgen Klinsmann'.

Although it has not been specified, it's reasonable to suggest Hamann was among those that Bayern were directing their statement at given his recent comments to Sky Germany. 

When discussing Tuchel, Hamann told the broadcaster: 'He sits down and talks about Xavi, about the successor and that he would like to train in Barcelona or Spain. That's a disgrace!'.

'He [Tuchel] is a very intelligent man, something like that doesn't just slip out of his mouth. Only he has to know one thing: If you are an employee of Bayern, taking on the management - that is rarely a good idea.

'When I look at the last three home games, it's subpar by Bayern Munich's standards. Against three teams that are at the bottom, that's simply not enough.'

It was not the first time this season Hamann had criticisied Tuchel for how he's been managing the German giants. Back in November, both Hamann and Lothar Matthaus criticised his transfer signings.

As a result, Tuchel left a Sky Germany interview prematurely following his side's clash with Borussia Dortmund - claiming he didn't want to speak about Hamann or Matthaus anymore. 

Tuchel told German BILD TV:' I've been asked about Didi Hamann and Lothar Matthäus every week. I don’t want to stand in the middle and keep making comments. Today was the day to finally say it. I won't go into it any further. At some point it's enough. I have enough to do in my job.'