Bayern Munich’s number of losses in seven games with coach Thomas Tuchel equals the number of losses they had in 37 games under their previous coach Julian Nagelsmann this season.
After Bayern Munich’s lackluster performance and loss against Mainz, Thomas Tuchel commented that the team seemed like “a team that has played 70 or 80 games” leading to their defeat.
Bayern Munich had taken the lead against Mainz through a goal from Sadio Mane and seemed to be on course to extend their lead over Borussia Dortmund to five points. However, a disastrous second-half performance resulted in a 3-1 defeat, continuing Thomas Tuchel’s poor start as manager of the club.
Bayern have suffered their fourth consecutive game without a win across all competitions, losing 3-1 to Mainz with goals from Ludovic Ajorque, Leandro Barreiro, and Aaron Martin.
The defeat has damaged their chances of securing their 11th consecutive league title. Tuchel attributes the downturn to the team’s lack of energy, as they appeared lethargic during the match.
“I don’t think it’s a technical or tactical problem,” Tuchel said. “We look like we have tired legs, we’re anything but fresh. It feels like we’re playing in extra time every time we take to the pitch.
“It’s very difficult to bring over new content or new ideas, because everyone is fighting with themselves right now.
“There are long phases in all the games where we’re good, and then in the short phases where we’re not. We’re letting points slip through our fingers. It’s going through our hands like sand.
“We have no energy. We look like a team that has played 70 or 80 games this season. We’re missing physicality, intensity, the foundation that you always need.”
Tuchel admits Bayern play ‘without a sense of urgency’
Asked whether a lack of incentive was an issue for a group of players used to dominating the Bundesliga, Tuchel said: “I don’t think it’s down to a big motivational problem when it comes to an 11th or 12th title.
“We have the best squad in the league, we have the biggest budget in the league, and it really is our expectation and demand to be title winners at the end of the season.
“But what comes with that are the things that are going against us, not just for the last three weeks, but for a while now. There’s no sense of entitlement. We’re playing without a sense of urgency.
“It feels like we’re just stumbling a bit. We could have been two or three-nil up in this match, and we would have had a very different press conference, but we didn’t do that. Then of course, we could have defended the goals, but we didn’t do that either.”
Bayern Munich have lost three games in seven matches under Thomas Tuchel, which is equal to the number of defeats they suffered in 37 games under the previous coach, Julian Nagelsmann, across all competitions this season.
Asked if he felt responsible for Bayern’s downturn despite his limited time with the players, Tuchel said: “I always find myself responsible. But regardless of whether I’ve been here for one day, one month, or one year.
“We’ve lost a lot of points in the second half of the season and right now, we’re not in a position to hit our top performance levels. But I feel responsible, but ultimately, everyone is responsible.”
