Bundesliga
Strong Bayern answer required: Tuchel’s “crucial question”
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel is also self-critical. photo
© Daniel Löb/dpa
A football champion Bayer Leverkusen is no longer an illusion in Munich either. Thomas Tuchel has to provide answers to the Bremen flop against Union Berlin. What does it take for this? Goretzka? Müller?
There is also the response of his star ensemble to the blatant failure against Werder Bremen Thomas Tuchel excited. In any case, the coach wants to see footballers in the FC Bayern jersey again on Wednesday (8.30 p.m. / Sky) in the Allianz Arena, who in the Bundesliga catch-up game against relegation candidate Union Berlin show “passion, grit, greed, duel behavior, hunger, doggedness, enthusiasm” live out.
“These remain the basic virtues and the basis for every good football game. They have to be clearly recognizable,” said Tuchel and warned: “The switch is not simply flipped.”
However, he urgently needs to be moved, otherwise it will also be a stormy winter for Tuchel in Munich. Nice football. Successful football. And title. These are the standards by which the Bayern bosses measured and ultimately evaluated every coach.
Devastating verdict
“Boring football” – Tuchel also heard this devastating verdict from CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen after the 0-1 win against Bremen. “The fact that Jan expresses his opinion, which he is right about, is also no problem,” said Tuchel.
The Bayern decision-makers don’t want to see Bayer Leverkusen’s taillights in the Bundesliga in the long term. The gap, which is currently seven points, should be reduced by the direct duel on February 10th in the BayArena. “We know the seriousness of the situation. We also know that Leverkusen is currently on a run. We can’t give away the points like we did against Bremen,” said captain Manuel Neuer.
Tuchel did not want to reveal what measures he would take as a coach to ensure that the usual winning normality in a home game against Union prevails again. Another speech before the game? Answer: “It always adapts to the situation.”
Tuchel with self-criticism
Other staff? Answer: “That’s the crucial question: Is now the moment when the players can prove again that they can do better? Or is the moment already here when a few changes will happen?” Tuchel spread a pinch of self-criticism: “I’m the first to question myself when so little of what I want to stand for as a coach is on the pitch.”
Tuchel missed “competitive toughness” and “competitive mentality” in the lousy Bremen flop. Bayern boss Dreesen also focused most of the accusation on the team. “We didn’t show the attitude you need to show,” he said.
Leverkusen’s consistently strong performance is making the situation worse. It is no longer a hypothetical scenario that the undefeated league leaders end Munich’s endless title cycle. “We can’t afford any more mistakes,” said national player Joshua Kimmich, alarmed. He also spoke about the attitude: “It shouldn’t happen to us that an opponent is hungrier than us.”
Tuchel could react with personnel, for example with veteran Müller, with youngster Mathys Tel and also with Leon Goretzka. With this substitute trio, Bayern’s game against Bremen came to life a little more. Tuchel also relied on Raphael Guerreiro in midfield against Werder, with Goretzka sitting out again. “It wasn’t a decision against Leon,” assured Tuchel.
Union will stand compactly
However, against the Unioners, who like Bremen are likely to defend with a deep five-man block, Goretzka’s physicality, aerial strength and dynamism in the center could be worth more than Guerrero’s fine left foot. “Leon is once again completely competitive in midfield,” said Tuchel. He is still waiting for new personnel on Tuesday after the signing of defensive player Eric Dier, who has not yet been used. Meanwhile, technical director Marco Neppe (37), who is no longer used in the record champions’ reorganized sporting leadership, is facing a farewell to Bayern.
By the way: Harry Kane and his colleagues have always been able to answer their misfires so far this season: After the crushing 0:3 in the Supercup against RB Leipzig, there was a smooth 4:0 at the start of the league in Bremen. The embarrassing cup exit at third division club 1. FC Saarbrücken was followed by a strong 4-0 reaction in the league’s top game at rivals Borussia Dortmund. And Bayern countered the disastrous 5-1 defeat in Frankfurt professionally with a 1-0 away win in the Champions League against Manchester United.