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Thomas Tuchel
Photo: Tom Weller / dpa
After the 1-2 defeat in the DFB Cup against 1. FC Saarbrücken, only a few players around Thomas Müller dared to join the travelling fans in the corner. Müller had publicly criticised his team-mates for this behaviour, and now coach Thomas Tuchel is campaigning for understanding among Bayern supporters.
Ahead of FC Bayern's Bundesliga clash at Borussia Dortmund (18:30 CET/Sky), the 50-year-old said: "It wasn't contemptuous in any way. We love the support in away games, it's sensationally good," said Tuchel, adding: "I can assure every fan that it was only due to the maximum disappointment of being knocked out of the cup in the 96th minute."
He also went to the dressing room immediately after the final whistle "to collect myself in the first disappointment," said Tuchel. The players just weren't able to go there in disappointment and do what they normally like to do." In the sold-out Dortmund stadium, the Munich pros and Tuchel are again hoping for loud support from the Bayern fan block on Saturday evening.
Tuchel: "Müller knew how to assess it straight away"
Tuchel also commented on Müller's reaction, which he described as justified: "Thomas also articulated that in the dressing room. That's his right." But the 34-year-old is also the one who knows the club best and knows what it means for the fans to travel with them and support them. "He knew how to assess it straight away," Tuchel remarked.
Apart from Müller, only Kimmich, Leroy Sané and Mathys Tel remained on the pitch after the defeat in Saarbrücken. "I would like to apologise to our fans for the behaviour of the team after the game," Müller wrote on Instagram afterwards. "We should stay together and show you some respect." Perhaps the classic against BVB is the ideal opportunity to put things back in order, Müller concluded.
vgl/dpa