As so often this season, FC Bayern goes into the second leg of the Champions League against Arsenal FC plagued by injuries. Manuel Neuer and Leroy Sané will be able to play.
The most important question before the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal was, of course, about the personnel. Thomas Tuchel answered it first and very briefly. “Manu can play, Leroy can play.” A slight sigh of relief from the fans of the record champions.
Captain Manuel Neuer, who was recently sidelined against Cologne, is also in the game, as is Leroy Sané, who showed an outstanding performance in the 2-2 draw in the first leg a week ago. However, there is a limitation with the winged car. Sané is not pain-free and has to “bite his teeth” and “for as long as he can,” Tuchel made it clear at the press conference.
Tuchel demands maximum dedication from the team and fans
Bite your teeth – Tuchel demands a similar sacrifice from the rest of the team. “We need the same dedication and tactical discipline as in the first leg,” demands the trainer and specifies: “Maybe even a little more.”
And Tuchel also takes the fans of the record champions to task: “We hope that this time we have the atmosphere on our side, like the Arsenal fans did in the first leg. An extraordinary, unique atmosphere that also supports the team. “
Tuchel on the personnel situation: Competition could not arise
This is extremely important, especially in the “current personnel situation”. Of course, things are still anything but rosy – and have been for the entire season. “It has an impact,” said Tuchel at the press conference before the game, when asked about the injury situation. “We have to say that there was only one game where we had to tell a licensed player that he wasn’t in the squad,” reported Tuchel, and the quality of the team ultimately suffered as a result: “So many adjustments are necessary within a week alone that competition could not arise at all.”
According to his own statement, top striker Harry Kane has never experienced such injury misery. “We train very hard and play every three days. The schedule is just very tight,” he tried to explain. Now it’s time to fight for the injured players.
Tuchel: Arsenal is fun and you can learn something every time
But all these quarrels could quickly be forgotten if Munich ultimately wins the Champions League. Tuchel knows that lifting the silver pot with handles in May is gilded every season. But before that, the difficult task awaits FC Arsenal: The English runner-up lost the league lead to Manchester City after the 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa at the weekend and is in danger of missing out on the title again. Nevertheless, Tuchel is full of praise for coach Mikel Arteta’s team.
“It’s fun to watch Arsenal. You can learn something every time and it’s successful,” enthused the 50-year-old. The tactical processes at Arsenal are “extremely fluid,” explained the coach. “Many automatic, free processes can be recognized”. Tuchel sees a high degree of variability among the “Gunners,” particularly in positional play and game structure. “It’s not a team that commits itself once and plays through a half.”
In the first leg, his team had “solved it well,” Tuchel said with satisfaction, but at the same time warned: “It’s only half time. We need everything again in all areas of the game and hope that the home game will give the extra percent in our direction .”
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April 16, 2024 – 6:30 p.m