FC Bayern remains unfazed by its current personnel issues. In a decisive 6-1 victory over 1. FC Magdeburg in the DFB Cup, the German record champions once again delivered a convincing performance. Yet the Munich team is currently without not only several key players but also their head coach, Vincent Kompany, who is ill. After the final whistle, Jonathan Tah spoke openly about how the team is handling this unusual situation.
The German national team player captained Bayern against the second-division side and formed the central defensive pairing alongside Hiroki Ito.
Although the final score was lopsided, Tah made it clear that the cup victory was by no means a foregone conclusion. “It’s never easy, even if it looks that way from the outside. It’s always a lot of hard work,” the defender explained after the match.
Tah praises Bayern’s mentality: “Everyone is ready to step up”
Magdeburg’s bold style of play, in particular, had initially posed a challenge for the record champions. “And the way our opponents tried to play today—they were bold. They tried to do something with the ball instead of just sitting deep and playing long balls,” Tah emphasized.
As the game went on, however, Munich took control. “That’s why we gradually found our rhythm, and at a certain point, the momentum shifted in our favor.”
For the 30-year-old, the key to the team’s current success lies above all in the team’s cohesion.
Tah specifically highlighted the young players David Santos Daiber and Binder, who got their chance against Magdeburg. “Regardless of who’s on the field, when I look at the players who came on as substitutes toward the end—Daiber, who scored the goal, and Binder, who came on—it shows that we stick together as a team and everyone is ready to deliver when called upon.”
Tah finds it particularly remarkable that the team continues to play successfully despite the numerous absences.
“It makes me happy to see that, despite missing players and our coach being away at the moment, we can still put in performances like this on the field,” explained the center back.
Tah Talks About Emotional Stress
The past few days have been anything but ordinary for FC Bayern.
While Kompany remains sidelined due to meningitis, Joshua Kimmich is absent due to a death in the family. Added to that is Luis Diaz’s injury.
Tah acknowledged that these events have also taken their toll on the team. “Well, I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t affected us in some way, because we’re all human. Of course, you feel for those who are affected.”
At the same time, the Bayern captain made it clear how the team intends to handle the difficult situation. “But ultimately, it’s about being professional. If you think about what we can do right now to give some positive energy to those who aren’t here, the answer is: go out on the field and show what we showed today.”
The next big challenge awaits on Saturday against Borussia Dortmund. Then Tah and his teammates want to prove once again that they can function as a unit even under difficult circumstances.