Bayern's Tuchel Gamble Laid Bare By Champions League Exit As Man City Cruise

Bayern Munich's Champions League exit on Wednesday has turned the focus on the club's hierarchy and their surprise decision to sack former manager Julian Nagelsmann. The six-time winners drew 1-1 at home against Manchester City but went out 4-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals, after a 3-0 first leg demolition in Manchester. Nagelsmann was sacked in late March with the club still in the mix for a treble. In six matches under Tuchel, Bayern have won two, drawn two and lost two, being eliminated from both the German Cup and the Champions League.

But while Tuchel is likely to be spared much of the criticism due to the little time he has had in the job so far, the focus has been laid squarely on club leadership.

Chief executive Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic have come under fire from fans, not only for firing Nagelsmann, but the direction of the club as a whole since taking over from Bayern figure-heads Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Even if Bayern win a record 11th straight Bundesliga title this season, the club's hierarchy is still facing its first true test.

- Eight from eight - With resources that dwarf every other German club, domestic superiority appears secure for Bayern -- even if they only currently have a two-point Bundesliga lead over Dortmund -- placing more weight on Champions League glory.

Given the importance the tournament carries in Munich, the decision to sack Nagelsmann is even more perplexing.

He had won eight from eight, twice dispatching Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and semi-finalists Inter Milan, without conceding as much as one goal.

Despite all the talk of the club's stuttering performance under Nagelsmann, Bayern only lost three of 37 matches in all competitions