‘No time to lose’ says Tuchel as Bayern plot Lazio comeback

Bayern Munich’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel attends a press conference on the eve of the Last 16 Second Leg UEFA Champions League football match between FC Bayern Munich and Lazio in Munich, on March 4, 2024. (Photo by ALEXANDRA BEIER / AFP)

Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel said his side cannot afford to be patient in Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Lazio as they attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit at home.

“The time is on Lazio’s side,” Tuchel told reporters on Monday. “We’ve got no time to lose.”

“We can’t be patient if it’s just about keeping ball possession. We have just 90 minutes.

“We can’t take time to wait for our first attack or pass to the other side instead of taking an opportunity.

“We need to play with a cool head but we need to play to score goals.”

In February, Bayern announced Tuchel will leave the club at the end of the season, less than a year after replacing the sacked Julian Nagelsmann.

Having won the past 11 league titles in a row, Tuchel’s Bayern are now 10 points behind Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen with 10 games to play.

With Bayern’s hopes in the Bundesliga fast disappearing, bringing the Champions League trophy to Munich may be the club’s last chance to avoid a first trophyless season since 2012.

Despite a promise from the club’s hierarchy that he will see out the season, German media reports the notoriously prickly coach could be out of a job as soon as Tuesday depending on the side’s performance.

Tuchel won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, a year after he took Paris Saint-Germain to the 2020 final, which they lost to Bayern.

“Talking about titles does not bring you titles — you need to show evidence every day,” said the 50-year-old.

“We need to show our unity at