BERLIN (AP) — Through no fault of his own, Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel is already under tremendous pressure after just two games in charge.
Bayern chief executive Oliver Kahn's and sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić’s unexpected decision to fire Julian Nagelsmann and replace him with Tuchel is coming under scrutiny after the team’s German Cup exit to Freiburg on Tuesday.
An injury-time penalty was all it took for Bayern to lose 2-1 at home and see the chance of a record-extending 21st German Cup title gone again for another year. Bayern also suffered embarrassing exits in the last two seasons.
Tuchel, whose team next faces Freiburg again in the Bundesliga, said there was there was no way to “correct” Tuesday’s loss, but another defeat to Christian Streich’s side on Saturday could let Borussia Dortmund retake the league lead with a win at home over third-placed Union Berlin at the same time.
Anything but a win for Bayern in Freiburg would stoke talk of a crisis at the Bavarian powerhouse days before it visits Manchester City for the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.
Kahn and Salihamidžić were banking on Tuchel giving the team a jolt ahead of such decisive games after Bayern lost at Bayer Leverkusen in Nagelsmann’s last game in charge. But there was little time for the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund coach to make changes to Nagelsmann’s setup.
Bayern defeated Dortmund 4-2 in Tuchel’s first game in charge when it seemed defense was more of a priority than under his predecessor. Dortmund made the better start but collapsed after a major mistake from goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
Bayern was more dominant against Freiburg but struggled to create clear chances against the visitor's committed defense, then conceded at the last when Jamal Musiala was penalized for handball.
Tuchel was unhappy with his team’s defending leading up to the penalty and said his players needed to “get bodies in, be more stable, be tougher.” He said the players’ will “to force the issue when there’s little space and the opponent is defending deeply. That was missing.”
However, the complaints were the same under Nagelsmann after the losses to Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach, or the draws with Leipzig, Cologne and Eintracht Frankfurt right after the winter break that allowed Dortmund back into the title race.
Dortmund also needs to make amends after crashing out of the cup to Leipzig on Wednesday. Edin Terzić’s team was fortunate to lose only 2-0 as it slumped to its second straight loss including the league defeat in Munich. Dortmund was previously unbeaten in 10 league games in 2023.
Already out of the Champions League, Dortmund has only the Bundesliga to play for, though it will be reliant on favors from rivals against Bayern if it is to finally end the Bavarian giant’s 10-year domination.
“We see the opportunity before us in the next few weeks,” Terzić said. “That means we’ll fight for every win, and if we manage to win every match, then there’s a good chance we’ll be German champion.”
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