Coach Thomas Tuchel was so hot that he smashed his toe during the motivational speech. The FC Bayern players then showed in the Champions League that they can still do it. Will the messed up season still lead to the big title?
Patrick Strasser
Whoever has the damage does not have to worry about the ridicule. The fact that on this Tuesday evening in the Champions League, which after a long time finally ended on a rosy note for FC Bayern by reaching the quarter-finals, there was again someone who suffered and his name was Thomas Tuchel, was a remarkable punchline of this 3-0 in the second leg of the round of 16 against Lazio.
The last counted and therefore ailing head coach, who would probably have had to leave Säbener Strasse before the end of the season if he had left, was injured. And that in the dressing room before kick-off. “The motivational speech before the game cost me my big toe,” reported the 50-year-old, who was treated immediately and later used ice spray himself in the dugout to relieve the pain. He didn’t want to take off his shoe afterwards, “because I didn’t have the courage to come in again.”
How it happened? He “kicked against someone somewhere.” Against the door, revealed Joshua Kimmich. Tuchel, who as a temporary coach could have degenerated into a coach on (soon) call in the event of a defeat against Lazio, thus proved how keen he was for this second leg. “My ambition is at its limit,” he said before kick-off. His toe had to believe it and was actually broken. Tuchel could barely walk, barely perform. “It’s very painful. That’s why I sat during the game,” explained the unlucky man, “but it’s all good. I was happy to make the sacrifice.”
“We don’t just do it with fruit tea”
Recognition and ridicule followed. “Thomas is on board with full enthusiasm and passion,” said Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, while President Herbert Hainer joked: “Personally, I would rather the coach break his toe than one of our players.” Of course, Thomas Müller, vice-captain, mouthpiece and humor representative for the team, couldn’t be missing from the topic. “There’s always a bit of wastage. Professional sport is always narrow-minded. We just don’t do it with fruit tea.”
However, it also required the right match plan and confident implementation. Clearly superior, the concentrated and structurally disciplined Bayern turned the tables and defeated the Romans 3-0 thanks to goals from Harry Kane (double pack) and Thomas Müller. This averted the catastrophe of not making it through the round of 16 of the premier class for the first time since 2019 – back then against Liverpool FC – and therefore almost certainly having to experience the first season without a title since 2011/12 – given the ten points Behind in the championship to Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern advanced confidently against Lazio because they “played much more courageously than in the first leg and had a better rhythm” (Tuchel), but also because of the weak performance of the guests, ninth in the table in Serie A, who had previously won three of the four games had lost. Motivator Müller previously spoke openly about a “feasible task”. But these Bayern, who started with only one win in their last five competitive games, are unsure of their status and are even reeling? This constellation with the team and coach Tuchel, which has explosive, sometimes toxic traits? They pulled themselves together and improved at the right moment, in the most important game of the season so far.
“We are of course happy and try to enjoy this feeling,” said Müller after the work was done. “It’s not a relief now, but we have taken a very important step.” For the resurrection of a team that had already been partly written off and had previously only won one of the last five competitive games (the 2-1 against Leipzig). “This is very good for all of us. The team did very well, played in a controlled manner and showed what they are capable of,” said President Hainer happily. He knows: For now there will be peace – unless there is another defeat on Saturday in the home game against relegation candidate FSV Mainz. The team showed their Champions League face against Lazio. And in the league, since the title seems to have already been awarded to Leverkusen after eleven championships in a row?
Tuchel and his team may now concentrate on their performance in the premier class. “Progress was extremely important and deserved, everyone should enjoy it. The team handled it very well and converted the pressure into positive energy,” praised sports director Max Eberl, who experienced his first home game in his new job. He, like everyone involved, was relieved. However, Eberl dampened any possible arrogance: “We are taking small steps. We want to go into the games against Mainz and Darmstadt with this tailwind.” In preparation for the Champions League quarter-finals in April (April 9/10 and 16/17).
Records for Bavaria’s “Golden Oldies”
In addition to the cautious youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic (19), the thinker and leader in the midfield, Bayern also had three over-30 professionals to thank for their progress. The “Golden Oldies” who each draw their own motivation from this special competition. There is goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (37), who did not stand out against Lazio. In his 136th Champions League game, he kept a clean sheet for the 57th time – equaling Iker Casillas’ record (177 games for Real Madrid and FC Porto). And the journey continues. Likewise for Thomas Müller. The 34-year-old’s header goal to make it 2-0 was his first in the premier class in 510 days. This means that the driver now has 54 Champions League goals in 149 appearances in Europe’s top floor – both German records. Finally, Harry Kane, who scored his 32nd and 33rd competitive goals (in 33 games) this season with the brace and leads the top scorers list in the premier class with six goals together with PSG striker Kylian Mbappé. The transfer fee of around 100 million euros that Bayern paid to Tottenham last summer for the captain of the English national team was truly worth it. “It was a top performance from us, a big moment in our season,” said the 30-year-old happily and said: “I am very proud of the team.”
After all the quarrels and doubts, will everything be (somewhat) good for Bayern in the final spurt of the season? The marriage of convenience between Tuchel, who left early at the end of the season, and his team could become a fruitful alliance in the Champions League, which – who knows? – maybe even reach the final on June 1st in London. What another punch line of his time at Bayern would be if he were to say goodbye with the handle pot.
The draw for the quarter-finals will take place on March 15th. Bayern would prefer to avoid the top favorites such as defending champions Manchester City and record champions Real Madrid (as expected, both of them will finish their round of 16 second legs after the first leg successes against Copenhagen and Leipzig respectively). To do this, unlucky Tuchel needs luck, the luck of the draw.