´It´s not too late´ – Tuchel tells flailing Bayern Munich to show champion class

Thomas Tuchel admitted Bayern Munich have reached the point where “nothing is easy” as he demanded his faltering team show a reaction to losing top spot in the Bundesliga.

Tuchel was undecided about whether to tune in for Borussia Dortmund’s clash with Bochum on Friday, knowing a Dortmund win would lift them four points clear of Bayern.

This weekend sees Bayern have to wait until Sunday for their turn, as they host Hertha Berlin. After that, both they and Dortmund will have four rounds of games remaining.

The clock is ticking, and Bayern’s 10-in-a-row title run is under serious threat following a damaging 3-1 defeat to Mainz last weekend.

Head coach Tuchel has injuries to contend with too. Centre-back Dayot Upamecano will miss the Hertha game due to a thigh strain and faces a fortnight on the sidelines, with striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and wing-back Alphonso Davies also set to be absent.

“I don’t even know if I’m watching Dortmund,” Tuchel said. “For us, the starting position is clear: we no longer have it in our own hands, and now we have to get 15 points.

“We have to improve. It’s not too late to show a reaction. We need them right away on Sunday. More than ever, it’s all about us. We have to deliver and then hope that’s enough.”

Hertha, who sit bottom of the Bundesliga, recently brought in Pal Dardai to replace coach Sandro Schwarz, and for that reason, Tuchel described the strugglers as an “unpredictable” prospect.

“That’s why we have one more reason to focus completely on ourselves. Nothing is easy for us at the moment,” Tuchel said. “The situation is crystal clear. We have to deliver.”

Tuchel: “Hertha are a bit of an unpredictable opponent, with their recent change of coach. It’s just one more reason for us to focus fully on ourselves. The situation is crystal clear. We need to take on this fight and see it as an even battle. We need to deliver.” #FCBBSC pic.twitter.com/glWDpDGT5M

— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) April 28, 2023

Former Chelsea, Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss Tuchel has experienced a turbulent start to his Bayern reign, since being appointed on March 25, overseeing exits from the DFB-Pokal and Champions League.

Should Bayern also fail to land the league title that has been their preserve for the last decade, it would compound this season’s woes.

A draw against Hoffenheim in mid-April was another damaging result, and Bayern cannot afford to fluff their lines this weekend.

“We are very honest with each other, very critical,” Tuchel said. “The team know my opinion on the Mainz game.

“In sport there is always the opportunity to make amends. In the last two games we lost points after taking the lead. That’s very atypical for us.

“Honesty and openness is the best form of interaction. We’ve shown that we can do it. It’s more the consistency that we lack.”