The problem is: win or lose, the Bayern Munich management doesn't know what to do with coach Thomas Tuchel!
Bayern Munich (left) are disoriented ahead of the second leg against Lazio.
Immediately after losing 0-1 to Lazio in the first leg of this season's Champions League round of 16, Bayern Munich officially announced their decision to part ways with coach Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season. This strange decision has put Bayern in an ironic situation right now. Does Tuchel really need to rack his brains, losing sleep trying to find a suitable strategy to overturn the deficit against Lazio in the second leg? And once the head coach no longer has the motivation to work (theoretically), do the players really need to fight to the death?
This is the harsh reality of professional football, not mere speculation. Nobody wants to lose. But a series of contracts are being considered by the players and the Bayern leadership. Who might the board sell this coming summer? Which players want to leave, and which want to renew their contracts, even if it means accepting a pay cut? It all revolves around the head coach position (because the players wouldn't discuss their future with Tuchel knowing he's going to be sacked anyway). The latest controversy: commentators suggest Bayern should immediately sack Tuchel (earlier than expected) if they are eliminated from the Champions League by Lazio. But sources close to the club say two things: Bayern will keep Tuchel if they lose to Lazio, but will still sack him at the end of the season regardless of the final Champions League result.
If Bayern ultimately suffer a humiliating defeat in every competition this season, it's difficult to say whether it's Tuchel's failure or that of the club's leadership. Since the Champions League was expanded (allowing more than one country to participate), Bayern has never finished a season without a national league title, nor without reaching the quarter-finals of any other competition. A historic disaster (in terms of results) is looming this season.
Losing by one goal in the first leg wasn't a big deal. Tuchel was even considered a "Champions League specialist" coach. Even PSG, a team with little reputation in this highly specialized competition, managed to reach the final, so he was undoubtedly skilled. Tuchel then led Chelsea to the Champions League title by beating both of the strongest teams in the competition in recent years: Real Madrid and Manchester City. The problem is the current situation, as mentioned: it's too uncertain for both Tuchel and Bayern Munich.
In all seven of their most recent knockout matches in the Champions League, Bayern have failed to overturn the deficit in the second leg! This season has been fortunate, as UEFA no longer applies the "away goals" rule. Otherwise, a 0-1 first-leg deficit would have been much more severe for Bayern (under the old rules, a 2-1 or 3-2 win would still have resulted in elimination). Nevertheless, Bayern remain strong at home. Their losses to Leverkusen and Bochum, and their draw against Freiburg, which left them 10 points behind Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, were all away games. The first-leg defeat to Lazio was also an example. At their home ground, Allianz Arena, Bayern have scored 40 goals in their last 12 matches across all competitions.
Lazio are currently only mid-table in Serie A. They have only progressed beyond the Champions League group stage twice, and have always been eliminated in the first knockout round. But against a struggling Bayern Munich, Maurizio Sarri's team has a chance to pull off an upset!
Match schedule
3:00 AM on March 6th:
Bayern Munich - Lazio
Real Sociedad - PSG
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