The players of Bayern Munich spoke to the German press on Saturday following the 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim with the necessary chagrin. The team of trainer Thomas Tuchel is not running smoothly and got stuck at 1-1 at home against 1899 Hoffenheim.
De Ligt draws a painful conclusion at Bayern Munich
“It can’t get any worse than today,” the Dutchman told Sport1. “We are lucky that it stayed at 1-1. The game against Manchester City was physically and mentally tough, but that should not be an excuse. We played today without intensity, without energy.”
Bayern lost 3-0 midweek at the Etihad Stadium and need a miracle for Wednesday’s return to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. He added, “Hopefully that game can give us confidence for the rest of the season. As a Bayern player you have to be able to play well every three days and be ready. That was not the case today.”
Müller: “We are shocked by our performance today”
Thomas Müller was also fierce in his words afterwards: “It’s hard to explain, because we actually trained quite well. We are shocked by our performance today. Still, even if you play less, you have to finish the chances you get. Then you will also get into less trouble. Today we were lucky, we can thank VfB Stuttgart for that.”
Stuttgart equalized (3-3) in the final phase against Borussia Dortmund, Bayern’s competitor. Müller still believed in a miracle against City. “But then we have to be at least 1-0 ahead at halftime. Even if we make 2-0 in the 80th minute, there will be another fifteen minutes in which we need luck. Maybe something magical is possible,” he added.
Sadio Mane returns to Bayern Munich after a match disciplinary suspension . The attacker dealt a blow to teammate Leroy Sané and then missed the league match against 1899 Hoffenheim. Trainer Thomas Tuchel said after that match that Mané is back against Manchester City.
Mane back at Bayern: Tuchel defends his player
After the first leg in the Champions League things went wrong between Mané and Sané , who had to be separated in the dressing room. From Tuchel’s words it can be read that the German coach would have preferred not to intervene disciplinary. “I’m willing to play his lawyer and put my hand in the fire for Sadio. I’ve known him for years and I don’t feel like anything will stick after this situation,” he said.
Tuchel thinks this was simply necessary in a difficult season, after a difficult game. The manager added, “It felt like a cleansing thunderstorm. As far as I’m concerned, that includes a symbolic punishment, but rules and a code of conduct are simply part of it.” In any case, Bayern is in dire straits. The last five matches resulted in two losses and a draw.
