Thomas Tuchel has opened up on the clash between Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane.
The pair were seen arguing on the pitch during Bayern’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday, with reports saying they later exchanged blows after the game where the former Liverpool man punched his Bayern Munich team-mate.
Bayern consequently announced on Thursday that Mane had been fined and suspended from Saturday’s Bundesliga game at home to Hoffenheim.
“Yes just the one match, and the fine. These are the consequences of his behaviour,” Bayern head coach Tuchel confirmed at a press conference on Friday.
He added: “I didn’t see it myself because I was in the coaching room. Of course, I immediately spoke to everyone involved, the players and the staff.
“It was important that we clarified the matter before we started the next training session. We did that yesterday. We have cleared up everything so that we can train positively with each other again.
“The way both players involved dealt with it, and the way the other players dealt with it, it had a cleansing effect. We had a positive atmosphere yesterday and today.”
Tuchel stressed that the matter is now closed while expressing his belief that it was out of character for someone he considers an “absolute professional” to engage in such an attitude.
“I’m the first one to defend him. I’ve known him for a very long time and only know him as an absolute professional… He has never been guilty of anything [like this before].
“It was against the club’s code of conduct, and he recognised it and apologised.”
Mane has relatively struggled on the pitch as well as off since he joined Bayern from Liverpool last year.
“Maybe he doesn’t need to think too much. Tuchel suggested “He hesitates and takes long to react. That’s why it seems he can be half a step too late. We want to get him to where he was [at Liverpool] through trust and appreciation. He was an absolute top striker in the best league in the world.”