Without Tuchel on the sidelines: Echo from the team is different

Status: 21/09/2023, 15:36 p.m.

By: Florian Schimak

CommentsShare

Thomas Tuchel watched the Champions League match against Manchester United from the stands, his two assistant coaches Anthony Barry and Zsolt Löw betrayed him. © Imago/tz

Thomas Tuchel was absent from FC Bayern's sidelines against Manchester United on Wednesday evening. For the stars, this is an unusual picture.

Munich – In the end, it was almost after midnight when Thomas Tuchel walked through the mixed zone of the Allianz Arena. Previously, the FC Bayern coach had only been seen sitting in the stands during the seven-goal opener in the Champions League.

The coach hummed his suspension from the previous season when he got the yellow-red card in the quarter-final exit against Manchester City. Therefore, Tuchel's assistants Anthony Barry and Zsolt Löw had to manage the sporting fortunes on the touchline. "It's annoying," the 50-year-old told DAZN before kick-off.

FC Bayern without Tuchel on the sidelines: Confusion after the final whistle

When asked whether his players had missed him, opinions within the team differed a little. "Of course, it's a bit different at half-time, even before the game," said Sven Ulreich in the catacombs of the arena: "But the assistant coaches did a good job." On the pitch, he said, he "didn't notice Tuchel's absence now."

While the keeper didn't want to make an elephant out of it ("not a big difference"), Thomas Müller took a more differentiated view of the whole situation: "It's definitely different. So 100 percent," said the jubilarian in the mixed zone, who celebrated his 100th victory in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Thomas Tuchel watched the Champions League match against Manchester United from the stands, his two assistant coaches Anthony Barry and Zsolt Löw betrayed him. © Imago/tz

Without Tuchel on the sidelines? Müller and Ulreich praise assistant coaches

"I think it's different when your boss isn't there," Müller said with a mischievous laugh: "Basically, it's more of a disadvantage because we've hired a head coach so that he can manage the fortunes that way." However, according to the recently 34-year-old, the coaching team is so tact and "the relationship of trust there among each other is so great that there is actually less lost than when other head coaches may be absent."

0

Also Read

Again no Müller game: Tuchel excuse speaks volumes

READ

"Class difference" and "absurd series": International press comments on Bayern's opening win

READ

Bayern sporting director Freund probably unintentionally reveals the Kane clause

READ

Four deuces and two disappointments: Notes on FC Bayern's wild seven-goal opener

READ

Former Nagelsmann favourite at FC Bayern? Rumours of interest – and 80 million euros

READ

Fancy a voyage of discovery?

My Area

That's why Müller didn't mind the two substitute coaches Barry and Löw that Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was substituted for Jamal Musiala in the 75th minute – and not Müller himself. In the end, he even scored a goal himself, but only hit the post shortly before the end.

FC Bayern concede late goals against Man United

According to Müller, the fact that it was close again despite the very clear superiority against United at times came as a surprise to the Bayern stars. "Of course, we didn't expect it anymore," said Müller: "And we didn't work towards getting two more things out of there. But we still play football. Wild things often happen there."

In the end, Bayern are now celebrating their 14th consecutive victory in the group stage of the Champions League. Most recently, there was no three-pointer for the German champions on December 1, 2020 against Atlético Madrid. At that time, there was a coach on the bench – but his name was Hansi Flick. In the meantime, he has completely different problems. (smk)

Florian Schimak reports from the Allianz Arena