FC Bayern Munich failed in the second round of the DFB Cup against third division team Saarbrücken. After the game, Bayern coach Tuchel tried to find an explanation for the defeat. Above all, its positioning poses a mystery. A BR24live.
Joy and sorrow were only two meters apart on this cup evening. While euphoric fans of 1. FC Saarbrücken stormed the pitch in the Ludwigsparkstadion to celebrate one of the greatest successes in the club’s history with their team, a stunned Thomas Tuchel stood just two meters away.
BR24live will broadcast classifications and background information about the game and FC Bayern Munich’s exit from the DFB Cup from 10.30 a.m.
The Bayern coach had to somehow explain in the ARD interview why the German soccer record champions lost 2-1 to a third division team. Why FC Bayern failed to show a class difference. And why the coach put players like Musiala, Coman and Kane on the bench.
Tuchel: “We had problems adapting”
“It’s not that we didn’t have a chance to win or were arrogant or didn’t give everything,” the Bayern coach began his analysis. “We had trouble adapting to the aggressive style of play. We had trouble making the difference.” And further: “There were a few players who had little rhythm in the game. The expectation that everything would run smoothly wasn’t there,” said Tuchel.
Tuchel relied on Tel, Choupo-Moting and Sarr
Tuchel trusted Mathys Tel, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Bouna Sarr and the 20-year-old Frans Krätzig. Bayern’s performance actually didn’t seem like it was all of a piece. None of the players were able to make any significant impact. And that despite the fact that the individual quality of these players would also have to be sufficient against a third division team. Tuchel also knew that: “Everyone is right when they say we still have to win.”
Coman, Musiala and Gnabry pose an offensive threat
He realized in the 60th minute of the game at the latest that the new formation that FC Bayern was playing with would be difficult to achieve a win. Tuchel made three changes: Coman, Musiala and Gnabry replaced Sané, Krätzig and Sarr. The substitutions had an immediate effect. The trio revived the offensive game. Bayern increasingly created chances, but the ball didn’t want to cross the line.
In the video: FC Bayern Munich is eliminated in the second round of the DFB Cup
Tuchel: “Wanted to wait before substitution”
Tuchel still had one option on the bench: Harry Kane. But the almost 16,000 fans only saw the superstar in his training outfit. The striker was sent to warm up, but Tuchel decided not to come on as a substitute. The reason: “There was only one change possible, a last one. I wanted to wait until extra time. Otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to change,” said the coach, who obviously didn’t expect a lucky punch from Saarbrücken. And so his hesitation was punished coldly. Marcel Gaus, a former FC Ingolstadt player, scored a sensation and sealed Bayern’s exit. “We wanted to go to Berlin with all our might. We are extremely disappointed. We congratulate the opponent.”
Müller criticizes Bayern teammates: show fans respect
“It’s a brutal blow for us that we are eliminated in the second round of the cup every year,” said national soccer player Thomas Müller after the cup defeat. “Of course that is anything but our claim.” At the same time, he criticized his teammates for their behavior towards their own fans after the game. “We will also discuss this internally, why our fans are rightly angry, regardless of the game. We have to show a different face so that we show our fans the necessary respect when they crowd the block here away,” he said the ARD. In addition to Müller, only a few players went to the fans who had traveled with them after the game and thanked them for their support.
Injury to Matthijs de Ligt
To make matters worse, Matthijs de Ligt injured his knee in the 20th minute. A little later the Dutchman had to be substituted. The Dutchman’s failure is one of the problems that Tuchel now has to deal with. He doesn’t have much time left. Because the top game against Borussia Dortmund awaits on Saturday. Probably with a different starting lineup than in the cup.
Video: Did Thomas Tuchel gamble away? The Bayern coach in an interview
That is the European perspective at BR24.
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Source: BR24Sport November 2nd, 2023 – 5:55 a.m
