Champions League
Mazraoui back at Bayern – Tuchel with a mini squad
Noussair Mazraoui at FC Bayern Munich training. photo
© Lennart Preiss/dpa
After Leon Goretzka broke his hand, Thomas Tuchel wrapped his Bayern stars in “cotton wool”. Noussair Mazraoui is back before the hot game at Galatasaray. A debate should not be an issue.
They were training when Noussair Mazraoui returned Bayern stars packed “as if in cotton wool” according to Thomas Tuchel’s wishes.
At least on the outside, because the clinical white sportswear was a symbol of the fact that no other professional should get injured before the hot Champions League test at Galatasaray Istanbul.
“To hold together everything we have”
“We can no longer afford a major injury epidemic. Now we have to hold together everything we have,” groaned Tuchel before the exciting trip to the Bosphorus. After the final session for the away game on Tuesday (6.45 p.m./Prime Video) in the cauldron of Rams Park, only 18 Munich football professionals boarded the special plane to the Turkish metropolis.
In 24 degree warm Istanbul, Bayern want to celebrate their next success towards winning the group after two wins against Manchester United (4:3) and FC Copenhagen (2:1). Before the atmospheric premier class evening, the coach declared that the debate about squad size, in which the views of Tuchel and honorary president Uli Hoeneß differ, had been “dissolved”.
With the absence list extended by Leon Goretzka’s broken hand in the 3-1 win at Mainz, Tuchel was happy that Mazraoui returned to team training after his muscle injury. The Moroccan international is eager to set a sporting tone again after much criticism for his pro-Palestinian social media post. During training he met his Israeli teammate Daniel Peretz. He laughed in difficult days when he gave Mathys Tel a piggyback ride.
Long failure list
In contrast to Mazraoui, who, according to coach Tuchel, showed remorse and was allowed to stay in the Bayern squad, like Goretzka, Manuel Neuer, Serge Gnabry, Dayot Upamecano and Raphaël Guerreiro are also missing in Turkey. It is unclear when Gnabry, who trained alongside Leroy Sané, who was covered in white from head to toe, will return after his broken arm. Neuer is set to celebrate his comeback in the Bayern goal after almost a year on Saturday in the home league game against SV Darmstadt 98. Sven Ulreich represents him again against Galatasaray.
“We know what awaits us in Istanbul, we all really pushed through it,” said Tuchel about the zero-to-one hundred exertions after demanding international trips. He would love to have more alternatives on offer. According to Hoeneß, “there will definitely not be a really big transfer offensive” in the winter. Tuchel laughed at the weekend when he was asked about the announcement of “the boss”. “Then that’s how it is.”
The coach and club patron do not want to be accused of having differences. “It was nothing that I hadn’t heard from him personally,” said Tuchel. “It’s settled between us because we regularly look each other in the eyes and tell each other where we are and what we’re feeling.”
Buddyish Tuchel
During his speech on the training pitch, Tuchel put his arm around Matthijs de Ligt, who, like Joshua Kimmich, who was recently ill, had to play in Mainz after an injury. “Regeneration, regeneration, regeneration at the highest level and then get back to the bacon in Istanbul,” was Tuchel’s maxim. Bayern want to improve in the game itself. “There is still a lot of room for improvement, but the most important thing is that we win the games,” said star striker Harry Kane.
Galatasaray’s victory in Manchester should be enough of a warning for Munich. “It’s going to be a great game! It’s a spectacular stadium and the atmosphere is fantastic,” predicted Lukas Podolski, who played for both teams, on the Bayern website. Galatasaray’s offense in particular is top. However, Argentine striker Mauro Icardi, who has already scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, was injured at the weekend and his availability is uncertain.
On the Bayern side, Thomas Müller could achieve a milestone. The 34-year-old, who is probably going on a trip abroad as captain for the last time given Neuer’s approaching return, is about to score his 500th point in his 676th competitive game for FC Bayern.