Bayern Munich have confirmed they have parted way with manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Assistant manager Willy Sagnol will take charge of the team on an interim basis, starting with the visit to Berlin to take on Hertha. Ancelotti's Italian staff have also left the club.
Though Bayern are only three points off leaders Borussia Dortmund after six games of the Bundesliga season Ancelotti has paid the price for Wednesday’s 3-0 Champions League defeat at Paris Saint-Germain.
The explosive frontline of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani was too much for Bayern’s defence, with club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge warning after the defeat in the Parc des Princes that there would be consequences.
A statement from Rummenigge this morning confirmed: "Our team’s performances since the start of the season have not met our expectations. The match in Paris clearly showed we had to take immediate action. Hasan Salihamidžić and I met Carlo today for full and frank discussions where we informed him of our decision.
"I'd like to thank Carlo for his time working with us and I'm sorry about the way it has developed. Carlo is my friend and he will remain so, but we had to take a professional decision in the interests of FC Bayern. I expect the team to produce a positive response and show absolute determination to achieve our targets for the season."
Ancelotti won the Bundesliga at a canter in his first season at Bayern but was eliminated from the Champions League by eventual winners Real Madrid at the quarter-final stage. He won 42 of the 60 matches he managed with the club.
Over 22 years in management Ancelotti has become acutely aware of the perils that come with managing at the highest level and has been given his marching orders at a who's who of top European clubs, including Juventus, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Former Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel, currently unemployed, is the early favourite among bookmakers to replace Ancelotti and is priced at 6/4. Hoffenheim manager Julian Nagelsmann is also in the frame.
