Reacting in the right way becomes key as Bayern stumble against Mainz and lose top spotClubs deal with adversity in their own way. At Bayern, perhaps because stumbles are so rare, the modus operandi is to freak out and speak your mind. We saw it when they drew at home to Hoffenheim and Thomas Tuchel was passive-aggressive-funereal; we also saw it when they got knocked out of the German Cup by Freiburg, and we got it again after the 3-1 defeat away to Mainz.
Club president Herbert Hainer said they “completely fell apart” and “became totally insecure.” Chief executive Oliver Kahn said it would be “a disaster” to end the season without a title. Resident icon Thomas Muller said “he was at a loss” and had “no explanation,” while sporting director Hasan “Brazzo” Salihamidzic said the “defeat is difficult to explain.”
I get that it’s part of being a big club and a massive brand, and German media is chock-full of former Bayern guys who love pointing out today’s mistakes, but it seems counterproductive. In times like these, it’s important to speak with one voice and get your messaging right. I don’t need to know get a tactical analysis from Hainer, the guy who — lest we forget — announced on a Monday that Julian Nagelsmann “would be around for a long time” before sacking him a few hours later. Nor does it help when you say not bringing him silverware would be disastrous and you can’t explain what happened.
Because you can explain it. Mainz are unbeaten in 10 games and have a legitimate shot at a Europa League spot. They’re not going to lie down for you, especially not at home. Despite controlling the game, you didn’t take your chances in the first half to put it away.
Also, this was not the game to play the much-maligned back three. And while neither Thomas Muller nor Joshua Kimmich were playing well, taking them off at 2-1 and replacing them with Mathys Tel and Ryan Gravenberch (who have two league starts between them this season) might have been designed to send a message, but it blew up in Tuchel’s face. Yann Sommer made a big blunder on the first goal (and a smaller one on the third), while defending for the second wasn’t great either.
Stuff happens.
Each of the above, to varying degrees, contributed to the defeat: take it on the chin and move on. Don’t start talking about “disasters” and the “inexplicable,” because you’re not helping the team and you’re certainly not helping Tuchel either. Talk about how you want to win every game the rest of the way and if Borussia Dortmund drop points, you’ll be ready to take advantage. That’s it, but hey, what do I know: Bayern have won 10 straight league titles (and a couple of Champions Leagues) acting like this, so maybe the hissy fits and Chicken Little routines offer the creative tension they need to excel.
I’ve said before that replacing Julian Nagelsmann — especially with the motivations Kahn and Salihamidzic gave — was a mistake and if it didn’t work out, those two would need to own the decision. So yeah, I think I’m entitled to point out that Tuchel has lost three games in a month, which is as many as Nagelsmann lost all season. Or that he’s only won two of seven.
But equally, Tuchel can’t be the scapegoat here. The buck stops with the people who put this team together, the people who turn the screws on him every time they open their mouths, and the people who got rid of Nagelsmann based on what now feels like a hunch and a whim. By the way: they’re all the same people.
Man United show bounce-back-ability (of sorts) to get to another Wembley final
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SATURDAY, APRIL 22 (all times ET)
• Osasuna vs. Real Betis (8 a.m.)
• Hertha BSC vs. Werder Bremen (9 a.m.)
• Wigan Athletic vs. Millwall (10 a.m.)
• Man City vs. Sheffield Utd (11:40 a.m.)
• Borussia Dortmund vs. Eintracht (12 p.m.)
• Real Sociedad vs. Vallecano (12 p.m.)
• Real Madrid vs. Celta Vigo (3 p.m.)
• San Antonio vs. Phoenix Rising (8 p.m.)
• Sacramento Republic vs. Detroit (10 p.m.)
SUNDAY, APRIL 23 (all times ET)
• PSV vs. Ajax (8:25 a.m.)
• Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid (10 a.m.)
• Leverkusen vs. RB Leipzig (11:20 a.m.)
• Brighton vs. Man United (11:25 a.m.)
United weren’t pretty, but they were effective, and while I often go on about performance rather than results, I don’t think you can blame Ten Hag here for his pragmatism.
Without Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire (yeah, him too) and Scott McTominay, there was always going to be a lot of insecurity. This speaks to broader issues, like how long it’s going to take for United to get back to where they want to be. Consider their four substitutes: Fred (who I have no issue with, though many do), Jadon Sancho (who has had a nightmare over the past 18 months), Tyrell Malacia (hands up: who had ever heard of him before last summer?) and Marcel Sabitzer (who is on loan from Bayern, where he had zero impact). And no, some of the starters weren’t much better.
Having already won the League Cup, Ten Hag will almost certainly take United back into the Champions League, and he has a shot at another domestic cup. (It’s a long shot, but still …) He has stamped his authority on the team and given the club much-needed direction. If he needs to play like this to get past an in-form Brighton, so be it.
As for Brighton themselves, they’ll be left to wonder what might have been if Deniz Undav‘s first touch had been a bit better in extra-time. But they’re under no illusion: they are one of the success stories of the season.
Raspadori’s late heroics sink Juventus in a game that underscores how not to use VAR
