Even though his team is 10 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, Thomas Tuchel, the manager, is still confident that Bayern Munich will catch up and win the championship for a record-tying 12th consecutive season.
Seeking to sustain their momentum following their 3-0 Champions League round of 16 victories over Lazio earlier in the week, Bayern, who are ranked second with 24 games played, will visit Mainz 05 on Saturday.
While the difference with Leverkusen may not be tiny, the former Chelsea manager—who is set to depart Bayern at the end of the current campaign—said that the game is far from over.
“We haven’t handed over the title,” Tuchel told reporters on Friday. “There’s an area between giving up and a statement of intent — and that’s called reality.
“The gap is very big. That’s realistic. For us, it’s about being more stable and finding new stability. That always starts with the next step. We need to win, win, win.
“It’s no longer in our own hands. Leverkusen no longer feel us breathing down their neck. We’re to blame there. But that doesn’t release us from our duty to give everything tomorrow.”
The German said the mood within the squad was positive.
“There’s always big hope. Obviously experiences and results like that (Lazio) help us, should give us courage and confidence,” he added.
“When you pull on the Bayern jersey, it’s about performing. That’s the same tomorrow. We want the maximum tomorrow. We hope the win gives us confidence and we can follow it with more wins.”
French winger Kingsley Coman will return from injury after the international break if everything goes to plan, Tuchel said.
