Emmanuel Thomas, DPA, Friday, May 26, 2023
MUNICH – Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel is not giving up hope of rescuing the Bundesliga title from the clutches of his former club Borussia Dortmund, but is taking full responsibility for a disappointing end to the season.
Bayern need to win at mid-table Cologne on Saturday and hope Mainz do them a favour by winning or drawing at Dortmund. Any other results in the season finale will see leaders Dortmund crowned and end Bayern’s 10-year reign as Bundesliga champions.
“Unfortunately we don’t need to watch the other game any more. For us it is perfectly clear, we have to win, then we can see,” said Tuchel, who coached Dortmund for two years until an acrimonious exit in 2017.
“Anything can happen, in every game. Just a small lack of concentration can do it.”
Bayern stunned the football world by sacking coach Julian Nagelsmann in March and bringing in Tuchel. Since then, Bayern have gone out of the Champions League and German Cup quarter-finals. They were on course to retain their Bundesliga title before a 3-1 home loss last weekend against RB Leipzig opened the door for Dortmund.
“I have no message for Dortmund. We have enough to do,” he told a news conference on Friday.
“We have fluffed our lines more often than they have. It is our duty to give everything until the end. It won’t be a season that satisfies us. Nevertheless…when you work for Bayern, you always have to give everything until the last whistle.”
He added: “When you are on the sidelines, you are fully responsible. As soon as I signed and I starting the training sessions, I was responsible.”
