Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel had tough choices to make with his lineup ahead of his squad’s Champions League 2-1 loss (4-3 on aggregate) Real Madrid and the coach provided the rationale for why he chose to start Aleksandar Pavlović and Serge Gnabry.
“I think Pavlo gets his confidence from the way he plays. Today we need a lot of courage in finding the gaps. That’s exactly his characteristic. The two central midfielders today will be very important so that we can also use the ball possession phases in midfield, we want to be more secure on the ball,” Tuchel told DAZN (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “We want to be more aggressive on the wings and we will do that with Serge. Jamal can also get into the half-space better this way.”
Fans could argue about Pavlović’s performance as he had some quality moments, but Gnabry’s inclusion did not work. The winger only played 27 minutes before being replaced by Alphonso Davies. In that time, Gnabry had nine touches and lost possession three times.
Looking for more discussion on the game? We’ve got all of the thoughts and analysis you need with our Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show! Check out our takes on Thomas Tuchel’s lineup, how the match played out, and why Real Madrid was able to squeak out (maybe with a little help) a victory in the Champions League. Get the show on Spotify or below:
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