FC Bayern Munich
Broken toe: Tuchel coaches against Mainz with a special shoe
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel broke his big toe. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
Thomas Tuchel was right with his prediction. He broke his big toe when he kicked a door against Lazio. The coach is a realist in the Bundesliga title fight.
The 50-year-old sustained the painful injury in the Champions League win against Lazio when he kicked a door in the dressing room during a motivational speech before kick-off.
“The big toe is broken,” Tuchel reported in the press conference for the home game against Mainz this Saturday (3:30 p.m./Sky). “It’s getting better day by day,” added the football teacher. “I’m trying to find a solution for the game with a stable shoe. And I’ve coached enough games in my career while sitting down. That’s not a problem, that was also the case against Lazio. We’ll find a solution,” said Tuchel.
FC Bayern has “not yet given up” the title
The coach hopes that the 3-0 win against Lazio and the move into the quarter-finals of the Champions League will give his team “courage and confidence” for everyday league life. “For us it’s just a matter of finding a new stability. That’s the main issue for us,” he said when asked about the title fight in the Bundesliga.
Given that they are ten points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, who are still unbeaten this season, Tuchel remained very cautious when it came to catching up. The title “hasn’t been given away yet,” he assured: “But there is something between giving it away and declaring war – reality. Leverkusen doesn’t feel our immediate breath.” You have to “win, win, win,” said Tuchel.
Youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic, who was suspended after his fifth yellow card, will probably replace Konrad Laimer in midfield against Mainz because Tuchel doesn’t want to restructure the defensive line. National player Joshua Kimmich should play right back again. Despite his knee pain, national player Leroy Sané should also play again.