Eberl declines to back Tuchel past Arsenal, Müller in "battle mode" ahead of Tuesday
Newly appointed FC Bayern München chief personnel executive Max Eberl declined to give current head-coach Thomas Tuchel a job guarantee through the end of the season following Saturday's loss to Heidenheim.
Bayern and German national team legend Thomas Müller insisted he was already gearing up for Tuesday's massive Champions' League showdown with EPL title contenders Arsenal FC.
Once thought to be a settled issue, the question as to whether Thomas Tuchel will finish the season on the FC Bayern München bench is now suddenly a live topic again. Saturday's shock loss to newly promoted small town side 1. FC Heidenheim constituted perhaps the worst possible dress rehearsal for Tuesday's showdown with EPL league leaders Arsenal FC.
Bayern and German national team legend Thomas Müller insisted he was already gearing up for Tuesday's massive Champions' League showdown with EPL title contenders Arsenal FC.
Newly appointed FCB board-member-for-sport Max Eberl guaranteed that Tuchel would still be coaching the German record champs during that encounter, but couldn't promise anything else. Eberl technically already made a vow he couldn't hope to keep by stating that "Tuchel will be on the bench next week against Köln [in the league]. Tuchel will not be permitted to coach the team due to an accumulated yellow card suspension.
Eberl's words unequivocally suggested that he and sporting director Christoph Freund considered Bayern's sporting goals for next season to be in danger. On 60 points through 28 match-days, Bayern are now only seven points removed from Borussia Dortmund in fifth place. A top four finish could be in danger. Eberl made clear that he expected a second-place finish for the record champs.
"Bayern have already sacked their coach and its not just a coaching problem," Eberl told the Sky microphones, "but we still have to make sure we qualify for the Champions' League. The honest truth, if I calculate correctly, is that we're seven points above fifth place."
"For the past 11 years, it's been the case of 'it'll work out somehow," Eberl continued, "Last year, it 'somehow' worked out again on the final day of the season. Now there's a team a cut above the rest that will deservedly become German champions."
"We have to get rid of the arrogance that says that second place isn't good enough," Eberl concluded, "We can start by ensuring that we finish second."
For German footballing legend Thomas Müller, the "arrogance" of his proclamation on the season's penultimate match-day last year was definitely a thing of the past. The 34-year-old still emphasized that the "Mia san Mia" spirit of the club would be in full effect come Tuesday. Müller insisted that he was ready to fight.
"It's clearly not the best phase in the club's history," Müller told his Sky interviewer, "It's not as if as if we're standing here with our fingers up our noses not caring about everything. I'm already back in battle mode for Tuesday."