Thomas Tuchel asked the Bayern players for “conviction and precision” to overcome the acid test at the Santiago Bernabéu and certify their place in the Wembley final with a victory at the Chamartín venue, after the 2-2 scoreline recorded a week ago in the Allianz Arena. «There are going to be different phases. Both teams will have to defend, endure, suffer, show strength when the rival has the ball because both teams are capable of having it for a long time. It is difficult to steal the ball from Real Madrid, but we are going to try to have it. Both teams are good at quick transitions and I think it will be a very complex match. “It takes conviction and precision,” he said.
«We have had one more day of preparation than in the first leg. We have taken advantage of that time, we have done two strategy sessions and now we have talked about general things. We just arrived and we have to enjoy it. We are reviewing the first leg and planning the second leg to know what we want to change. Everyone as a child has their dreams and now we have reached this moment. “We want to take this step towards Wembley,” explained Tuchel shortly after Bayern landed in the Spanish capital to face a duel that is presumed to be volcanic between two giants of European football with numerous unfinished business.
Tuchel showed respect for the Real Madrid myth and expressed his amazement at the Santiago Bernabéu, but he also praised his team. «It is one of the most complicated stadiums to win, but it is not impossible. We played better in the first leg but we didn’t win. Real Madrid has an advantage when playing at home. I remember when the internet did not yet exist, I would look through the books about the world championship and Emilio Butragueño would always appear. When I return to this stadium, that image always comes to mind. Madrid is one of the most important clubs in the world, but so are we. It is a gift, but also an obligation. “We are not playing a semi-final to enjoy it but to take the next step which is to reach the final,” he said in an appearance in which he confirmed that De Ligt and Dier are in perfect condition to form the axis of Bayern’s rearguard. «They played together in the quarterfinals and we eliminated Arsenal. They deserve to continue playing. We have the green light and tomorrow we are going to keep it that way,” he said.
The quality of Kroos and Vinicius
He praised Toni Kroos, who was decisive for Allianz by delivering the formidable assist that allowed Vinicius to open the scoring. «Toni has been a key player for years. He has no problems withstanding pressure and wearing the shirt of this club at a very high level. He has achieved many successes in the League and the Champions League and has an impressive career. He dominates the game in his own way, sets the pace and takes the reins of Madrid’s game. Tomorrow we can make his life a little difficult and stop him. But we don’t just play against Kroos, but against all of Madrid, who works very well, with a very flexible game,” he said of his compatriot.
He also alluded to Vinicius, a practically unstoppable footballer. «There are many teams that have tried it and it is not always possible. Sometimes you have to accept the quality of a player. Can we do better than in the first game? Yes, and we are going to try. But without a doubt he can hurt any team in the world. Even so, it is still possible to get through the tie,” he stated in a press conference in which he also commented on the situation of Bryan Zaragoza, a former Granada player who has barely had minutes since he landed at Bayern.
«It has been a very big step for Bryan Zaragoza, with all due respect to the team he played for. He was fighting with my sports director to come and then we started not having very good results. He doesn’t speak the language, all signings take his time, but we are happy with him,” he said about the Spanish international.
2024-05-07 18:16:46
#Tuchel #asks #Bayern #conviction #precision #flexible #Madrid
