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Thomas Tuchel joins exclusive club after leading third team to UCL semis

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Ex-Chelsea manager made a HUGE call with his starting XI that paid dividends
Ex-Chelsea manager made a HUGE call with his starting XI that paid dividends

THOMAS TUCHEL produced a tactical masterclass to see Bayern Munich into the Champions League semi-finals.

Joshua Kimmich bagged the only goal on the night to send the Germans through 3-2 on aggregate after a hard-fought win on home soil.

Thomas Tuchel oversaw a famous Bayern Munich win against Arsenal qhidqhieqiuqprw
Thomas Tuchel oversaw a famous Bayern Munich win against ArsenalCredit: Getty
Bayern are the third club Tuchel has led to the Champions League semi-finals
Bayern are the third club Tuchel has led to the Champions League semi-finalsCredit: EPA
Joshua Kimmich won it with a bullet header
Joshua Kimmich won it with a bullet headerCredit: Reuters

It is the third different club he has taken to the last four - joining an elite group of managers.

Only Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola had accomplished the feat before this evening.

Tuchel, 50, was a runner-up with Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 and won the trophy with Chelsea a year later.

Lionel Messi posts emotional message after 'year I will never forget'Lionel Messi posts emotional message after 'year I will never forget'

He accomplished his latest feat despite the fact he is set to leave Bayern at the end of the season following his struggles to compete with high-flying Bayer Leverkusen.

Mikel Arteta's Premier League title contenders were expected to be the better team over two legs but came up against a stubborn opponent.

As was hinted at in a training-ground leak, Tuchel decided to play two left-backs - Noussair Mazraoui and Raphael Guerreiro - from the start and drop Thomas Muller, which allowed him to shut down Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka.

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A delighted Harry Kane told TNT Sports: "It was an unbelievable win. It's been a tight season for us, we’ve had to fight and grind.

"Today was that. We knew we could make the difference with our fans. It was what we expected, a tough game, a tight game.

"It was a great goal from Josh to make the difference, then it was about defending.

"We can enjoy this one. The first half was cagey but we upped the tempo.

"These games are tough and we have to find our way through them. The expectation is to try to win the Champions League, maybe there was some tempo missing in the Bundesliga.

"That can't happen next season, it's going to be a tough game in the semi-final, whoever we play."

Mirror Football's Premier League team of 2022 as champions dominateMirror Football's Premier League team of 2022 as champions dominate

Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Tuchel's former club PSG are the other teams in the last four.

Jamie Gordon

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