FC Bayern could not manage more than a 0-0 draw at Schalke. The hosts’ compact defense, in particular, posed problems for the record champions. After the game, Jonathan Tah expressed surprise that Schalke played much more defensively than expected.
In the draw against FC Schalke 04, FC Bayern was unable to score. For Jonathan Tah, this was primarily due to a lack of efficiency.
“We may have been missing just a bit of luck at the right moments. I think the opportunities were there,” the center back explained to Sky after the match.
Bayern controlled the game for long stretches and had significantly more possession. Nevertheless, Vincent Kompany’s team failed to convert their dominance into goals.
“We had an enormous amount of possession. Of course, we could have created even more chances by perhaps trying even harder to get into the box and get closer to the goal at the end,” said Tah.
At the same time, the 30-year-old felt there were certainly enough opportunities to win the match: “I think we still had three or four very, very clear chances that we just didn’t convert.”
Schalke dropped deeper and deeper as the game went on and, at times, defended with all players behind the ball.
“Of course, the opponent ended up defending with eleven men. At times, their center backs were all the way back at the penalty area line in our half,” Tah said, describing the hosts’ style of play.
Bayern Surprised by Schalke
The fact that Schalke would sit so deep apparently came as a surprise to the Bayern player. Although FC Bayern faces deep-lying opponents in most games, the record champions had prepared for a different approach from the Royal Blues ahead of the match.
Under coach Miron Muslic, FC Schalke 04 is actually known for pressing high up the field. In the match against the record champions, however, the Royal Blues—like most teams in the Bundesliga—relied on a deep defensive block.
“To be honest, we expected something different,” Tah admitted. At the same time, he pointed out that Bayern is already familiar with such situations.
“The coach said it recently: There are always games you analyze, and then there’s sort of this ‘Bayern plan’ where teams sometimes do something completely different from what you’re used to,” explained the center back.
For Tah, adapting to such opponents has become part of everyday life: “But in the end, we’re used to it and can adapt relatively quickly.”
Against Schalke, however, this adjustment wasn’t quite enough. Despite clear chances, Bayern had to settle for a single point.