Before FC Bayern have to play at 1. FC Köln on Saturday (3:30 p.m.), coach Thomas Tuchel will answer journalists’ questions for the last time this season. sport.de reports today from 11:30 a.m. in the live ticker from the press conference of the German record champions.
Who is Thomas Tuchel available for the title showdown? And with what plan does the coach send his stars into the race to keep up the pressure on leaders Borussia Dortmund with a win in Cologne?
+++ Route/approach to Cologne +++
“The more pressure there is, the less information there is. I don’t know the very general buzzwords of ‘wait and see’ or ‘start with pressure’. When we play, we play all-in. I expect an opponent who is extremely high presses. An opponent who plays more like RB Leipzig than RB themselves. In addition, the Cologne come through the physique. They will play with great energy. It is extremely difficult to win in Cologne. That’s why I would think it presumptuous to say : 3-0 after 20 minutes is the goal. We need complete focus and a small sense of achievement and we need our quality. We cannot afford to lose concentration. Losing the ball in our own half is very dangerous. We have to stick to the plan very clearly to hurt Cologne and win the game.”
+++ In what role does Tuchel see himself in terms of responsibility? +++
“When you’re on the sidelines, you’re in charge.”
+++ Is there a thank you to Mainz if 05 defeats BVB? +++
“We delivered the gift a few weeks ago,” said Tuchel with a laugh, looking back at the 3-1 defeat against Mainz.
+++ How combative is FC Bayern still? +++
“It’s quite difficult to judge that. But the mood was forward, as difficult as that is. The week before the last game is not the moment to look back and overwork the error analysis. There is only one game left anyway, it’s better to We tried to do it over two days off, we wanted to digest it there. We didn’t want to analyze it too emotionally so as not to let the frustration take over. We wanted to run it out on the pitch and sweat it out. I think that’s the right thing It’s still a mixed feeling for me. The last performance wasn’t enough to win a game. We didn’t agree with that at all. What we saw against Leipzig doesn’t fit the 10 days before and it doesn’t fit now either the days after that, so I’m conflicted about the extent to which we look at mistakes to stay forward and take the bare minimum chance.”
+++ Tuchel on the alleged weakness in corners +++
Should someone other than Kimmich shoot? Tuchel: “When it comes to standards, we rely heavily on statistics, not so much on feelings. We go to the hard facts. We’re deep into the subject, thanks in part to Anthony Barry. And as long as he says Kimmich will shoot, it stays that way so.”
+++ To the staff +++
“Except for the long-term injured, everyone is there. As I said, so is Choupo-Moting.”
+++ Supervisory Board meeting on May 30th: Is the unrest about Kahn/Salihamidzic a burden? +++
“Both of them are the key contacts for me. The season doesn’t mean that we massively start planning for the future, because the starting position was never clear until the end and the swings in our performance were too big to focus on the bigger picture It took my energy. I have no control over what happens on May 30. That’s why it’s best if I break away from it. No matter what happens, after that we have to try to give the best input, with Diligence, with prudence. Everything in the interests of the club. Everything we do here internally is calm, productive. It will remain the same as far as I am concerned. I don’t give a damn about anything else.”
+++ Are the players happy that vacation is coming soon? +++
“If that were the case, it’s still something we have to change. It’s natural that after this season – no matter how it ends – the players are ready to give everything again. You have to get distance, clear your head. Nevertheless, it must be like this soon: Säbener Strasse must become the haven of peace for the players. No matter where the unrest may come from, whether private or brought in from outside: there must be peace on Säbener, here we want to push ourselves to the highest limit in one Atmosphere of productive calm. That is the basis for all successes.”
+++ Tuchel on criticism of his game +++
“Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion. We’re by no means satisfied, we’re playing. It’s our job to be more dominant and quicker, to combine things more fluently, to create more chances to score. We’re just not succeeding in that. That’s why we don’t have the arguments to fully engage in the discussion. But we wouldn’t do that anyway, because that doesn’t make any sense.”
+++ Tuchel on Hernández rumors +++
“I noticed the headlines recently, but that doesn’t matter to me. For me, he is an absolute leader, I plan with him, that hasn’t changed.”
+++ Tuchel about Choupo-Moting +++
“He’s ready and ready. The reintegration has been successful. He’s been through the last few sessions and has had reactions. He’s in the squad in Cologne if everything goes well.”
+++ Tuchel about Neuer and Hernández as passengers for the trip to Cologne? +++
“Lucas Hernández set a new record time in rehabilitation. But it would be irresponsible to take him with you. He received special protection in training, was not specifically approached etc.! It was important for him now to get the reward for his suffering.”
Neuer as a fellow traveler in order to theoretically be able to celebrate the championship? “I haven’t thought about whether Manuel Neuer will be taken to Cologne.”
+++ Tuchel on the dissatisfaction +++
“Anything can happen in every game. There can be red cards, penalties, deficits, that can happen in Dortmund, it can also happen with us. So I have not sent any messages to BVB or predicted what could happen. We have enough to do ourselves. We’re trying to finish the race, we want to give everything to the end. But: There won’t be any more seasons in which we’re satisfied. No matter what it looks like in the end, it won’t be a satisfying one Season longer. However, we still have to go to the end, whether we like it or not. It doesn’t matter what the score is, even if the game is already decided in the other stadium.”
+++ Tuchel on the plan for the “final” against Cologne +++
“Unfortunately we don’t have to watch what happens anymore. We just have to win and only then can we see. When you’re in the lead, you can see what’s happening in other places, whether you still have to take the big risk. But of course is: We have to win and need support.”
+++ Thomas Tuchel is here! +++
The last matchday press conference of the 2022/23 Bundesliga season can begin.
+++ Bayern take their time +++
There is still no sign from the head coach.
+++ It’s about to start! +++
At 11:30 a.m. we expect Thomas Tuchel on the podium.
+++ Difficult starting length for FC Bayern +++
The starting position before the Bundesliga final is as clear as it is bitter for FC Bayern: Borussia Dortmund can win their first title since 2012 on their own. BVB goes into the last match day with a two-point lead over FC Bayern.
If BVB wins at home against FSV Mainz 05, it will secure the title with 73 points, regardless of FC Bayern’s result at 1. FC Köln.
If BVB draws or loses, it still wins the title if FC Bayern also only draws or loses at 1. FC Köln.
+++ Does at least the top scorer come from Bayern? +++
If there is no championship title for FC Bayern at the end, at least one Munich attacker could pick up a personal award: Serge Gnabry. The offensive man, who has been in a brilliant mood in recent weeks, has scored in the last four games, even twice against FC Schalke 04, and thus moved up to second place in the top scorer rankings.
With 14 goals, he is only two goals away from leader Niclas Füllkrug (Werder Bremen, 16). Ballert Gnabry also several times against Cologne, it could possibly be enough for shared or even sole first place, provided that Füllkrug remains goalless with the Green-Whites away player at Union Berlin.