As of: March 9, 2024, 9:02 p.m
By: Patrick Mayer
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Thomas Tuchel suddenly has a luxury problem at FC Bayern.
Late in the season, central defense seems to have become established in Munich, to the chagrin of a new addition.
Munich – It felt like a new experience for FC Bayern this season.
Because: Coach Thomas Tuchel had four regular central defenders at his disposal before the furious 8:1 (3:1) against Mainz 05.
That didn't happen often this season.
Thomas Tuchel: Bayern coach chooses Eric Dier and Matthijs de Ligt
So time for hardship cases.
And: Tuchel finally decided on the duo Matthijs de Ligt and Eric Dier at the Allianz Arena, who had already impressed as a defensive center in the Champions League in the 3-0 (2-0) win over Lazio Rome.
First of all: Both central defenders also showed a good performance on Saturday afternoon (March 9th) against the pitiful “Zerofives”.
The South Korean Minjae Kim, who is considered one of Tuchel's favorite players, had to sit on the bench, as did the Frenchman Dayot Upamecano.
The 50-year-old Bayern coach tried to classify this personnel decision as diplomatically as possible before the start of the game.
Bench instead of starting eleven: Dayot Upamecano, Kim and Bryan Zaragoza (from left) in FC Bayern's Bundesliga game against Mainz 05. © IMAGO / Eibner
FC Bayern: Dier and de Ligt play instead of Kim and Upamecano
“It's extremely hard for Minjae, especially because he actually deserves to play and is extremely good.
But that's how it is sometimes.
Eric and Matthijs have now played two home games and delivered there.
And then they just stay with it,” Tuchel explained before the remarkable gala goals against Mainz on
Sky
.
There was a lot of praise for the English newcomer Dier, who is a good friend of Bayern striker Harry Kane.
The 30-year-old Englishman “plays very clearly and he speaks a lot.
And that's good for us because he's well organized at the back and has a close relationship with Matthijs de Ligt," said Tuchel: "That's why they're a step ahead at the moment."
It's extremely hard for Minjae, especially because he actually deserves to play and is exceptionally good.
But that's how it is sometimes.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel on Sky
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Dayot Upamecano: Bayern defender “suffered a bit” according to Thomas Tuchel
On the other hand, it is also “a great pity for Upa (
Dayot Upamecano
,
editor’s
note
).
“He saw two red cards and suffered a bit because of it,” the Munich coach continued.
To put it into perspective: The 25-year-old Upamecano was the referee in both the first leg of the first leg of the premier class at Lazio Rome (0-1) on March 5th and in the 2-3 draw (2-1) against VfL Bochum on February 18th was sent off the field with a dismissal.
The 27-year-old Kim, who moved from SSC Napoli to Isar in the summer for a rumored 50 million euros, is having a mixed season.
The 1.90 meter tall central defender was in both the defeat in Rome and the embarrassing DFB Cup exit at third division team Saarbrücken (1:2) as well as in the groundbreaking Bundesliga games at Bayer Leverkusen (0:3) and in Bochum the starting eleven and over the full distance on the pitch.
So far he still owes a lot.
(pm)