Last Update: April 11, 2023, 04:42 IST
Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel (AP)
Tuchel takes Bayern to the Etihad Stadium looking to move one step closer to winning the Champions League for the second time
Thomas Tuchel is so excited for Bayern Munich’s Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City that the German has had trouble sleeping ahead of Tuesday’s first leg.
Tuchel takes Bayern to the Etihad Stadium looking to move one step closer to winning the Champions League for a second time.
The 49-year-old led Chelsea to the 2021 final in Pep Guardiola’s City win before being sacked by the Premier League club last September.
Now Tuchel is working overtime to come up with a plan to beat Guardiola again.
It means the build-up has disrupted sleep patterns for the Bayern boss as he considers his tactical plans.
“I’ll try to sleep early. I hope I can sleep,” Tuchel told reporters on Monday.
“The best preparation is sleep but sometimes it’s hard to get that sleep when you’re thinking about things.
“This morning I woke up really early and I just decided to go to the training ground because I couldn’t sleep back. I just kept thinking about the match.”
Tuchel, who replaced the sacked Julian Nagelsmann at the Bundesliga leaders last month, will face Guardiola for the 11th time in his managerial career.
The German has won only three of his previous fixtures, but a Champions League final trumps all else, even if Tuchel is inclined to play down the significance of that memorable night in Porto.
“I don’t think I can learn much from the other matches I’ve played against Pep,” he said.
“It is unique what Pep does. We will try to find solutions but to create problems for the city we will need a full performance.
“We didn’t mention this final and we won’t. It would sound too awkward for me. We focus on our team now.”
– ‘gold standard’ –
City, who have won the Premier League in four of the last five seasons, are in excellent form after winning their last eight games in all competitions.
Acknowledging Bayern going into the tie, Tuchel said: “It’s a major task ahead of us. They are the current gold standard for us.
“We want to live up to that but after our results and performances in the Champions League so far, the team deserves to be confident and we have to try to carry that on.
“Maybe we play a little underdog, which is not a problem. We will try to make the most of it. We need to be confident and on top of our game.”
Tuchel, whose side could face his former club Chelsea if they progress to the semi-finals, insists he feels no extra incentive to perform upon his return to England.
“Need no more motivation. I’ve enjoyed every single day in England, coaching in England and in the Premier League. I’m happy to be back and back in this environment.”
“When the whistle blows, there will be no more joy and sentimental thoughts. Then we will fight till the last whistle.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
