We need a miracle – Thomas Tuchel knows Bayern have a mountain to climb

By Andy Hampson, PA, Munich

Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel concedes his side need a miracle to overcome Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The German giants trail 3-0 on aggregate heading into the second leg of their last-eight tie at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Tuchel believes his side are capable of turning the tie around but knows it is a tall order.

The former Chelsea manager said: “We need a wonder, a miracle.

🗣️ Tuchel: "Bayern always have the aspiration of making the quarter-finals. From then, you have to take into consideration the performance on the day, luck and injuries. Playing against Manchester City is a massive challenge, they are in great form recently."#MiaSanMia #FCBMCI pic.twitter.com/pKO6cE8I9Z

— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) April 18, 2023

“I don’t know if talking about a 4-0 or 5-1 is appropriate – you need to be realistic – but we believe in ourselves.

“It is the second leg. If we manage to play a good first half we can make it happen in the second. Everything is possible.

“It’s a huge mountain to climb and that’s why we need to believe in ourselves but we don’t want to be dreamers. Dreaming for me is always close to sleeping and you cannot sleep for one second.

“We need to believe and believing means we have it in our own hands to make things happen. We need to make it happen by team spirit and performance and energy.

“We are not alone, we can fight as a team and we have our spectators who will be ready to fight with us.”

City produced one of their greatest European performances and underlined their status as Champions League favourites in the first leg last week.

Six-time European champions Bayern had gone into the game with much anticipation but their capitulation led to recriminations and a dressing room bust-up between team-mates Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane.

It was reported that Sane was struck in the mouth by Mane and the former Liverpool forward was subsequently suspended for a weekend by the Bundesliga club.

City manager Pep Guardiola claimed this incident could galvanise and motivate the Bayern squad for the second game but Tuchel played down this possibility.

“I hoped we would use it against Hoffenheim but we obviously didn’t,” said Tuchel, whose side were held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

“Now the case is already closed, the subject died. I don’t think this will give us a huge boost.”

Tuchel confirmed that striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was winning his fitness battle after a knee injury but was not sure if he was ready to start.