Clarified circumstances, a new business basis for the trainer? Thomas Tuchel, who will be leaving FC Bayern after the end of the season, emphasized on the day before the home game against RB Leipzig after three defeats his “freedom in decisions”, a “freedom in how you act”, coupled with the opportunity ” to be a little more ruthless.”
So was the separation announced by CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen on Wednesday a relief for the sometimes overly sensitive football teacher and his football stars, who recently seemed almost lost, or was the German long-term champion still stuck in his slump in form? Before the top duel with RB Leipzig, these and other questions about a complicated relationship were waiting for coherent answers that could only be given on the pitch.
Everyone now knows where they stand – and yet no one knows whether the partners will perhaps separate sooner than announced on Wednesday. The hard-fought and ultimately played out 2-1 victory of the second-placed team over the Saxons thanks to goals 26 and 27 of the season by their outstanding attacker Harry Kane (56th minute, 90th + 1st) eased the suffering of the Munich team for the time being, even if the The gap to Leverkusen, who are leading by eight points, remains large. The disappointed Leipzig team, on the other hand, for whom Sesko scored the 1-1 (70th minute), remained in fifth place and were quite sad at the end because of the dramaturgy of the game.
Harry Kane makes Munich cheer
Tuchel was asked after the game on Sky broadcaster whether the success had been a relief. “We’ll see,” he said, “if we follow through with action. The late, important victory is good for the players. We now have to step up and up our game.” Munich captain Manuel Neuer stated that “the better team won”: “Of course it sounds like Bayern nonsense, but I think it was simply deserved.” He practiced as Leader of the team self-criticism after a week in which coach Tuchel was the main focus. “It is also our responsibility when a good coach is fired. Every single person has to have a guilty conscience.” The original Bavarian Thomas Müller also pointed out that “you can see that the tablecloth is not completely cut up”.
The Munich coach was missing seven injured and one suspended player (Upamecano) for the duel with the similarly ambitious fifth-placed team, who recently won twice in Munich in the national Supercup (3-0) and in the league (3-1). What Tuchel saw in the first 45 minutes with the 75,000 spectators in the sold-out Bayern Arena was only exceptionally exciting. More precisely, in two scenes in which Janis Blaswich, who returned in goal for the ailing Gulacsi (abdominal muscle strain), played spoilsport. First with Harry Kane’s header (5th) after Raphael Gurreiro’s pinpoint cross, which the Leipzig keeper directed against the post, and then with Leroy Sané’s solo run, when Blaswich shortened the future shooter’s angle more and more before he finally caught the ball (34.).
Thomas Tuchel and the tin box: The coach of FC Bayern Munich took a seat right on the edge of the pitch. : Image: AP
The rest was rather tough fare, lightened up by an overhead kick from Kane (42′), which didn’t pose any problems for Blaswich. Bayern dominated a game that lacked the final force and determination as well as a sparkling thought that could have gotten the game, which was not particularly brisk on both sides, rolling. The Leipzig team limited themselves to solid defensive work without once shining offensively.
In the meantime also tried artistic: Munich attacker Harry Kane: Image: dpa
The effort that had previously been frantic on both sides led to a second half in which both teams seemed more determined and more presentable. First, the Saxons, who had been passive for 45 minutes, switched to attack mode and within a few moments had three scoring opportunities through Haidara’s long-range shot and Simakan’s direct take after Raum’s corner (53′) as well as Xavi’s long-range shot, which Neuer parried like Haidara’s attempt (55′). The national goalkeeper even caught Sesko’s lob when he won the one-on-one duel (61′).
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But then the Bundesliga shooting king Harry Kane showed everyone how to score goals just as coolly and precisely. The Englishman converted an involuntary assist from Leipzig’s Xaver Schlager from a duel with Jamal Musiala into Munich’s opening goal with a left-footed shot into the right corner of the goal. A goal that was good for the game, which was now swaying back and forth. Both teams freed themselves more and more from their qualitative standstill every minute. Leipzig also managed to equalize with Benjamin Sesko’s low shot, which Leon Goretzka deflected.
It continued back and forth and with a little more precision Kane could have scored for the second time. His header, however, was a touch too high (80′). But it didn’t matter because Kane made up for what he had missed in stoppage time and with a remarkable volley shot the game to the side of FC Bayern Munich, who were finally celebrated by the fans again.