Bayern Munich have been hit with an injury setback as five key players are set to miss a crucial match against Arsenal.
The German club’s head coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Bayern could be without some of their vital players for next week’s UEFA Champions League showdown against Mikel Arteta’s side.
The German Bundesliga champions will face the north London outfit next week for the first leg of their quarter-final tie, however, Arsenal have already handed a huge advantage given UEFA’s decision to ban Bayern supporters from attending the clash.
Thomas Tuchel named captain Manuel Neuer as well as mainstays Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman, among those doubtful for the European tie during his press conference ahead of their clash against Heidenheim.
The former Chelsea boss also included full-back Noussair Mazraoui and rising star Aleksandar Pavlovic in the list of players who could be set to miss out.
The Champions League is the only hope for the former Chelsea manager to avoid a trophyless campaign with the German side after he was forced to concede the Bundesliga title last weekend following a comprehensive home defeat against Borussia Dortmund
The former Paris Saint Germain manager is due to stand down at the end of what has been a tough season, one that has taken a fresh setback following a spate of injuries.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game against Heidenheim, Tuchel said; “Manuel Neuer, Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane, Aleks Pavlovic (ill), and Nous Mazraoui are not in the squad for Saturday’s game.”
“Rapha Guerreiro is back in the squad. The problem is that all 5 players are out not because of rest, but all have problems. Therefore they are a doubt for Arsenal as well.”
“The main problem with Leroy is his pubic bone. With Kingsley it’s muscular. He had muscular problems after the game against Dortmund.”
“Thankfully we’ve got the confirmation that it’s nothing structural, but they’re problems that mean he can’t play.”
On the severity of the injury situation Bayern Munich find themselves in, the coach added;
“We have five potential starting XI players injured. So our tactical opportunities and competition are very limited.”
Speaking ahead of their Champions League clash against Arsenal, Tuchel said; “The injury situation this season is crazy. I had a few ideas in the past weeks on how we want to play against Arsenal and things we could have tried in the past few games, but we’re missing players all the time who play an important role in these plans.”
“It starts with Manu up to the wingers. We’ll probably try to get players who didn’t play much recently into a rhythm tomorrow to see who’s ready.”
In light of the injury crisis, Tuchel was asked if he was tempted to rest key players, such as in-form playmaker Jamal Musiala on Saturday but the Bayern boss gave a frank response to the suggestion.
He said: “They don’t need a rest. They’ve just had a week break. We have to prepare seriously for tomorrow”.
“Especially in the situation we are in, we have to focus on the here and now. The focus is always on the next game, and that will not change.”
Having had their title hopes all but ended after defeat to Dortmund saw them fall 13 points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern’s chances of silverware this season rest entirely on European success.
Arsenal, on the other hand, will be hoping to benefit from their misfortune, as they look to continue their bid for Premier League and Champions League glory.
The Gunners are currently second in the league, just two points behind leaders Liverpool, with a near fully-fit squad available for the season’s run-in.
Mikel Arteta’s side are hopeful that Bukayo Saka, who missed their last game against Luton as a precaution, will be fit for this weekend’s clash with Brighton, before their all-important European contest against Bayern Munich.
