Tuchel comments on Tuesday's challenge against Arsenal

FC Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel commented on the club’s form and Champions League opponent Arsenal one day before arguably the most important game for Bayern Munich this season.

A season to forget –  or not?

The 2023/24 season has been a difficult one for all people who are involved with Bayern Munich. The staff, players and supporters haven’t had many moments to look back on with a smile on their faces. Bayern have almost certainly lost the title race to Leverkusen, have been knocked out in the DFB-Pokal by Saarbrücken and overall haven’t had many performances which are “Bayern like”. That’s why at the press conference before the quarterfinal against Arsenal in the Champions League, Thomas Tuchel was confronted with the question: “Is this season already lost? Or would the Champions League save it for you?” 

Tuchel thought about his answer before acknowledging his club’s bad form this season: “You are right to criticize us on our performances in the league and the DFB-Pokal, which frankly haven’t been good enough. We haven’t been able to build up any continuity and we’ve lacked a lot of passion and fire. In the Champions League however, we were able to show that other side from us, the good side, with which we are able to beat any team in this competition.” Good performances against one of the best teams in England could certainly change the perception of this season for Bayern – especially if they lead to them winning the UCL title.

But Bayern are far from being considered the favorite for this year’s Champions League. After their 2-3 loss against Heidenheim at the weekend, many reporters and experts, mainly Didi Hamann and Lothar Matthäus from Sky Germany, questioned whether this might be Tuchel’s last game and last chance to even continue until the summer. Tuchel didn’t want to comment on the analysis and team talk after the Heidenheim game. He himself wants to “give everything for the club until it’s over.” After the last results, Bayern are actually in a situation they don’t recognize themselves in: they are the underdog against Arsenal.

Is Bayern Munich the “underdog”?

When Tuchel was asked about what it would need for his team to beat Arsenal, he reiterated: “The passion and concentration we are lacking in the league.” Arsenal are currently on top of the table in the Premier League, Tuchel even called them the “best team in the competition” – based on current form. “Since Mikel Arteta’s arrival as Arsenal coach, they’ve formed an incredible and hard-to-break-down bond with all the playerns, staff and fans”, said Tuchel about Bayern’s opponent. Martin Ødegaard has been a key factor for Arsenal’s success, as Tuchel concluded: “He connects everything, knows and trusts his teammates and has really taken the next step since becoming club captain.”

But there is another player who Tuchel had a lot of admiration for: Kai Havertz. “Well, he probably scored the most important goal in my career as a coach! An outstanding guy with incredible abilities and just a great character”, said Tuchel. But as good as Arsenal is, Thomas Tuchel definitely sees a chance to cause “an upset” – and he wants to make it as difficult as possible for the London team.

A quote that Tuchel made in the beginning of his Bayern career came after the UCL defeat in the quarterfinal against Manchester City. Tuchel stated he was “shockingly in love” with his team, even though they lost against the eventual title winner. This quote was again brought up in this press conference, connected to the question what it would take for Tuchel to feel this again. Tuchel quickly responded by saying: “We need the same mentality as back then. Sure, we’ve made mistakes, but those were just moments in which we lacked conentration individually. Our passion, our fire and our spirit was what made me fall in love.” 

We’ll have to see if Tuchel can once again fall in love with his side or not. Either way, tomorrow’s game will have a huge impact on Bayern’s overall 2023/24 season.