Tuchel insists Bayern won’t try ‘crazy things’ in transfer window
Thomas Tuchel insists Bayern Munich will not be “forced into crazy things” in the last days of the January transfer window despite a growing injury list.
Bayern is without a number of key first-team players, including midfielders Joshua Kimmich, Konrad Laimer and centre-back Dayot Upamecano, as it aims to gain ground in the Bundesliga title race when it travels the short distance to Bavarian neighbour Augsburg this weekend.
The depth of Tuchel’s squad is set to be tested in the coming weeks, but he is adamant his club will not be rushed into any panic buys.
“The transfer windows are getting more and more complicated. The public plays a bigger and bigger part in that,” he said.
“I have full confidence in what we’re doing. We won’t be forced into crazy things. The team is clear for tomorrow. You rely on that as a coach. We’ll push the team through tomorrow’s game. I’m sure we’ll have everything to get an important away win tomorrow.”
Upamecano’s thigh injury means Englishman Eric Dier is set to continue in the starting XI after making his Bayern debut in the midweek win over Union Berlin.
Tuchel hailed Dier’s integration into the squad since his loan move to Germany from Tottenham Hotspur.
“Obviously he’s lacking training sessions and playing time with the team. Now we’ve had a crash course, which is sometimes the best. He’s very aware, very clear in everything he does. I have great confidence that he’ll play well again tomorrow,” Tuchel said.
Bayern heads into the Augsburg match four points behind unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen, which it faces in a title showdown on 11 February (AEDT).
“There’s no putting a value on the importance of games. Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano are out for weeks. Konny [Laimer] has played every game for us, so it’s tough. We have to try to compensate for that,” he said.
“There’s a plan. We feel prepared. But there are obviously a lot of injuries from the rearranged game [against Union].”
Tuchel said Kimmich had “no chance” of being available, adding: “His shoulder needs to be immobilised, and then we’ll take things a week at a time. It’s tough to put a timescale on Josh being out.”
Augsburg coach Jess Thorup said his team was “on a really good trajectory” heading into the clash with Bayern, having won away at Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend.
“We will try to keep in control of the game not just when we’re out of possession, but when we have the ball as well. We don’t just want to defend,” Thorup said.
The Augsburg coach revealed he had a full squad of players to pick from for Bayern’s visit.
