“Nothing changes at all,” said the Bayern boss on Saturday evening. And when asked again: “I don’t like to repeat myself, it remains as I just said.”
But Dreesen also made no secret of his disappointment. “It was the game that the whole of football Germany had been looking forward to for weeks. And we deserved to lose – unfortunately,” said the 56-year-old.
Bayern started well and had the game in hand for 15 minutes. “Then we lost track,” he said. However, he didn’t want to analyze why that was and continued: “There’s an expert: We have to ask the coach.”
Of course, it wasn’t lost on the Bayern boss that Tuchel had made himself vulnerable due to his unsuccessful tactics – Bayern played with a three-man chain for the first time this season. But Dreesen “didn’t want to speculate too much” about the line-up. Leverkusen was simply better. We deserved to lose, we just have to accept that.
Bayer against Bayern: Matthäus sees class difference
“Sky” expert Lothar Matthäus even saw “a class difference at the highest level”. Bayern “deservedly were sent back to Munich 0-3”.
The way in which Leverkusen downplays almost every opponent in the Bundesliga makes the former vice-president now the number one championship contender. “If they keep playing like this, no one will doubt it,” said the former Bayern professional: “They are playing in a league of their own. This run, this self-image, this togetherness – they are now the big favorites for the German championship. Anyone who says otherwise , has little knowledge of football.”
Tuchel sees the record national player in the firing line after the defeat. “Of course the line-up will now be discussed and there will be questions that concern the coach. Why is Boey playing on the left, for example? It didn’t work. This team had no security, it wasn’t itself. The processes weren’t fluid.”
Unsettled by an unfamiliar formation, Bayern “were missing a lot of things that Leverkusen took advantage of coldly. The coach has to question himself whether he did everything right.”
Tuchel was certainly convinced of his measure, “but the plan didn’t work,” said Matthäus: “I also think that Uli Hoeneß doesn’t like this system change. Bayern – that’s 4-2-3-1.”
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FC Bayern: Improvised three-man chain as a point of contention
In Leverkusen, the Bayern coach had the team play 3-4-2-1. Tuchel’s improvised three-man chain could now become a point of contention. “Ancelotti tried that once in Paris, then he was gone,” the 62-year-old alluded to Carlo Ancelotti’s dismissal after a 3-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in the 2017/18 Champions League.
It should be noted that Bayern are currently playing “far below their potential”. “Thomas Tuchel said he didn’t recognize any class difference. I have a different opinion,” said Matthäus and therefore predicted “danger of storms on Säbener Straße”.
“This defeat hurts. There will be a rush at Bayern,” he said.
Given that they are five points behind Leverkusen and the fact that Bayer have not lost a game yet, Matthäus gives Bayern only a few chances in the championship race. “At this point in time I would say: Winning the Champions League will be easier than the championship – at least you have it in your own hands.”
Of course, Dreesen sees it differently – the Bayern boss relied on perseverance slogans. “Who would I be if I wasn’t an optimist right to the end,” he said. After a game like this you have to collect yourself and look forward: “We’re not giving up and have to be there if Leverkusen slips up.”
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