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(Reuters) – Bayern Munich shall be thought-about as underdogs once they face Manchester Metropolis within the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, supervisor Thomas Tuchel mentioned.
In his most difficult match since taking cost of the Bundesliga membership final month, the German supervisor shall be hoping to drag off one other win over Metropolis having guided his former membership Chelsea to the Champions League title with victory over Pep Guardiola’s facet within the 2021 Champions League closing.
Bundesliga leaders Bayern have gained the Europe’s premier membership competitors six occasions whereas Metropolis are nonetheless trying to find their first, however regardless of that file Tuchel feels all of the stress shall be on the Manchester facet.
“Tomorrow, we could have the function of the underdog and that’s okay. We’ve to remain assured and keep on prime of our recreation,” Tuchel advised reporters on Monday.
When requested how Bayern would cope with Metropolis, Tuchel mentioned: “Pep’s groups at all times have his personal distinctive type. We’ll attempt to discover methods of competing each with and with out the ball.
“There shall be moments the place we shall be struggling and we should defend as a block, attempt to overcome that and attempt to get extra possession.”
Defender Matthijs de Ligt echoed the sentiment of Tuchel, emphasising the significance of stopping Metropolis’s midfield from supporting their entrance row, particularly Champions League’s main scorer Erling Haaland.
“It should clearly be a tricky recreation. It is necessary that our defence is well-organised. Haaland is a unbelievable participant, however it is going to be tough for him if he does not get good passes from his staff mates.”
Earlier on Monday, Bayern introduced that Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting would miss the match with a knee damage. Tuchel mentioned he had a shortlist of replacements.
“There isn’t a motive Serge Gnabry could not play as a quantity 9. He could not have the peak, however nor do Thomas Muller or Sadio Mane,” Tuchel mentioned, including that the Cameroon worldwide could be missed when defending set items.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk, modifying by Pritha Sarkar)