It was a kind of paradox that Thomas Tuchel decided to create when his players’ energy stores became increasingly empty on Friday evening on the deep lawn in Cologne-Müngersdorf. In the days before this confident, but also narrow, 1-0 win at 1. FC Cologne, the FC Bayern coach had repeatedly pointed out the almost unbearable demands placed on his players.
He had described how unpleasant a Friday game after an international break was for a team with so many national players; the stress was “at the absolute limit, if not above it”. And yet on the twelfth Bundesliga matchday, Tuchel actually became the first coach of the season to completely forego the opportunity to reduce the stress of his professionals through substitutions in a game.
“Didn’t give up the game”
The eleven players from the starting line-up were also on the pitch when the final whistle blew; people like Thomas Müller and Raphael Guerreiro had warmed up for a long time and then went to shower without playing. Tuchel knew immediately after the game that the contrast between his complaints about the pressures of this autumn and his substitution behavior would raise questions and explained to his team immediately after the final whistle why he had acted the way he did. “He also said in the dressing room that his wish was to bring every player,” reported Manuel Neuer, “but the game simply didn’t allow for that.”
The coach later said that he simply “didn’t feel” the right substitution option, that he had no idea what substitution would make sense, and that he didn’t want to “disturb his own rhythm anymore,” he said. For example, he left Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Harry Kane on the pitch due to their heading skills in order to minimize the danger from high balls or standard situations from Cologne. That was “a bit unfortunate,” said Tuchel, and asked his substitutes “not to hold this amazing measure against him.”
The fact that the coach couldn’t think of a sensible change can be seen as a further indication of imbalances in the squad, which has been discussed for weeks. At the same time, the unusual measure indicates the seriousness with which this team currently views the dangers of such games. Tuchel did not want to jeopardize this success with any routine change that was not linked to the conviction of truly strengthening the team.
Anything other than a win would have been extremely embarrassing in this spectacularly superior game, which was more likely to result in a 4-0 or 5-0 than the narrow 1-0 that Harry Kane had scored (20th). In the first half hour, the Munich team wasted a number of good chances to score a second, third or even fourth goal after Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart admitted his team was wrong.
Inferior Cologne residents fight
He was “completely wrong” with his demand to press aggressively, said Baumgart and explained: “I pushed the boys forward and realized that what I had imagined couldn’t be implemented against such a strong team.” After half an hour he corrected that and was happy that Bayern had “let his team live”.
The Rhinelander’s defense was now more stable, commitment and commitment were once again exemplary, which actually shows strength in a game like this in which a team is behind for 90 minutes. For the first time in his career as a Bundesliga coach, Baumgart had his team play with a three-man chain, which actually worked better and better.
Despite all the inferiority, his team “worked their asses off,” says Baumgart, and this resilience is seen around the Geißbockheim as an indication that the team is fundamentally functioning and that the relationship with the coach is intact despite the many disappointments. However, Cologne were so harmless on offense that the greatest threat to FC Bayern’s goal came from Manuel Neuer. The goalkeeper repeatedly made daring passes in his own penalty area and once, when he made a long trip into midfield, he was lucky that the ball was not lost.
Published/Updated: Recommendations: 2 A comment from Christopher Meltzer Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 19 Marc Heinrich, Frankfurt Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1
But Manuel Neuer is Manuel Neuer, his style of play usually works, and so Cologne were left without a clear chance to score. This serious lack of goal threat is the defining feature of their season so far and has long since left its mark on their self-confidence. The upcoming games in Darmstadt and against Mainz will provide evidence of how serious this damage actually is.
