FC Bayern struggled for a long time against TSG Hoffenheim – much to the surprise of Thomas Tuchel. The coach missed a few things, but also gave special praise. Tuchel also expects more from one player
It was an emotionally charged game in the Allianz Arena. FC Bayern’s season opener against TSG Hoffenheim was dominated by Franz Beckenbauer. After many actions in honor of the deceased Bayern legend, his Munich team got off to a good start and quickly took a 1:0 lead through Jamal Musiala – but overall struggled visibly in the first half against compact Hoffenheim.
Much to the surprise of Thomas Tuchel: “We’ve actually had such a good week of training, in terms of spirit and drive.” There was little to be seen of these two attributes in the game, the record champions were too uninspired and their attacking attempts too often bounced off TSG’s five-man backline. “We’re not yet getting the desire and the joy and the greed across into the games, not yet consistently,” Tuchel stated on “Sat.1” – and therefore came to the conclusion: “It wasn’t a treat. “
Neuer prevents the equalizer
Thomas Müller also missed “a bit of lightness”. But against a “standing block” like the one Hoffenheim presented, it was not so easy for attacking players, which is why it looked “a bit unattractive”. Overall, however, the veteran felt that he and his team-mates had done well
However, there was a phase in the game in which the match could have tipped over. “We had a phase where we dominated, but then completely let it slip and gave away three great chances,” said Tuchel. In the 63rd minute, Manuel Neuer, who played his 500th competitive match for FC Bayern, prevented the equalizer with a reflex save against Maximilian Beier, as he did shortly afterwards in a one-on-one against Andrej Kramaric (64′). Beier also hit the crossbar (65′).
Special praise for Musiala – Tuchel calls for Sané
After that, Bayern recovered and made it 2:0 through Musiala – the preliminary decision in minute 70. The 20-year-old, who had initiated his second goal himself and was also an invigorating element in other respects, received special praise from his coach: “Jamal was absolutely our best player today. He was the only one who had the freedom and the desire and the joy to do something. “
The desire and joy that Tuchel missed in Leroy Sané, among others. Although the 28-year-old twice provided Musiala with assists number ten and eleven, Tuchel demands more. “Leroy has to play more physically, he has so much potential, fast runs, sprints, he can’t do without that,” said the 50-year-old, stressing that he felt it was “too little” if Sané didn’t show that. But if Sané calls upon his full abilities, “then he can be decisive – in the Bundesliga and internationally”.
Despite all the criticism, the Bayern coach also emphasized that “not everything was bad” – after all, the bottom line was a deserved 3-0 win. And yet Tuchel still has some work to do, as he himself emphasized: “We have to keep at it, we can do better.” There will be time to do so from January 14. That’s when FC Bayern start their four-day training camp in Faro (Portugal).
