Despite the clear victory against Lazio Rome, the sporting situation of the record champions in the Bundesliga remains unsatisfactory. They are now ten points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Nevertheless, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel does not want to write anything off ten matchdays before the end of the season and addressed a clear message to his team.
At the press conference ahead of the home game against Mainz 05, the 50-year-old explained: „We haven’t given up on the title. There is an area between conceding and declaring war – and that is called reality. The gap is very big, that’s realistic. We need to become stable and find a new stability – that always starts with the next step.“
Tuchel continued: „We have to win, win, win, it’s no longer in our own hands. Leverkusen can no longer feel our breath, it’s our own fault. But that doesn’t release us from our duty to give everything tomorrow.“
Nevertheless, the Bayern coach objected: „If I promised that we would become German champions, everyone would say that I’m schizophrenic and unrealistic.“ However, three points against Mainz are extremely important.
Victory against Lazio Rome: First important step
When asked to what extent the 3-0 win against Lazio Rome in the Champions League round of 16 boosts the record champions‘ confidence, Tuchel replied: „Of course it helps us. The way we did it should give us confidence. We’ll expect the maximum from ourselves again tomorrow and hope that the Lazio game will give us that extra dose of confidence.“
The coach himself will coach most of the upcoming home game sitting down. Tuchel broke his big toe during the emotional speech to his team before the Lazio game. „If I want to be close to the edge of the pitch, I might need a box,“ he explained with a grin.
With a win against Mainz 05 on Saturday, Munich can move ahead and reduce the gap to the Werkself to seven points for the time being. Leverkusen do not play until Sunday at 7.30 pm against VfL Wolfsburg.
