Champions League
UCL: Santiago Bernabeu One Of Toughest Stadium To Win – Says Tuchel
Many of Bayern Munich’s players would have dreamed about playing against Real Madrid in a Champions League semi-final, and manager Thomas Tuchel is urging his team to tap into that childhood excitement as they face Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Following the 2-2 draw in Germany last week, Bayern Munich will need to secure a victory against Real Madrid on their home turf to advance to the final at Wembley.
After Bayer Leverkusen ended Bayern’s 11-year Bundesliga reign by securing the league title last month, the six-time European Cup winners now have only one trophy remaining to compete for this season.
Tuchel spent several minutes talking to his players in an empty Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday and said that he told them they needed to find extra motivation within themselves.
“It is important to connect with your inner child. When we were little we played these games in the garden. So now we are here and that’s our chance to make it true,” he told a press conference in Madrid. “I think both teams have to endure defending and suffering when their opponents have the ball. It is extremely difficult to steal the ball from Real Madrid. Both teams are very, very strong in the transition game. It gets very complex. You need luck and precision. Then everything is possible at this stage.”
In the first leg, Bayern dominated the game but was unable to capitalize on chances, while Real Madrid displayed a ruthless performance to secure the victory.
Vinicius Junior scored twice for Real Madrid, with Leroy Sane and Harry Kane also finding the net for Bayern. The tie is finely balanced, but Real Madrid are considered the favorites to progress as they head into the second leg at home.
Real Madrid, the record 14-time Champions League winners, are known for their prestigious history in the competition. However, Tuchel expressed that his team is not intimidated by Real’s impressive track record in the Champions League.
“Bayern are also one of the most successful and dominant clubs in the world and we must do our best when we step on the pitch tomorrow,” he said. “You don’t talk about myths, that would make it harder for us. It is already one of the toughest stadiums to win but not impossible. We are not here to enjoy the moment.”
Bayern advanced to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since their 2020 triumph, while Real Madrid last won the title in 2022 after a remarkable series of comeback victories at home to secure their spot in the final.
Real Madrid is aiming to secure their sixth Champions League title in a decade after recently winning their 36th La Liga title, extending their record, last Saturday.
The Bavarians, however, have endured a disappointing domestic run and Tuchel will exit at the end of the season.
“Real Madrid are an amazing team but we need to be confident in ourselves and help each other, we can’t be stuck or afraid. We need to make something positive from the pressure,” Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said. “Against a team like Real Madrid, it’s the little things that matter. Nobody wants to make a mistake because both teams have very good offensive power.”
