ISTANBUL : Bayern Munich are struggling with a growing injury list and have travelled with an 18-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League match at Galatasaray but coach Thomas Tuchel said that changed nothing in their plan to win the game and stay top of Group A.
The Bavarians are without central defender Dayot Upamecano as well as midfielders Raphael Guerreiro and Leon Goretzka while goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is still working on his comeback.
Goretzka on Sunday had surgery for a broken hand, an injury he sustained in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Mainz 05.
Tuchel said Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui, who was injured on international duty, had accompanied the squad and should be fit in time for the game.
“We have sped up recovery and maybe risked a bit in the past days. So he fully took part in training today and if there’s no reaction overnight then I think he can play,” Tuchel told a press conference on Monday.
Mazraoui also triggered a furore days ago with social media posts in connection with the Israel-Hamas conflict but the club refrained from taking any disciplinary action.
Bayern lead the group on six points from two games with Galatasaray in second place on four, are out to stretch their record unbeaten run, having gone 36 Champions League group stage matches without a loss, with 33 wins and three draws.
FC Copenhagen are in third on one point, with Manchester United, who have lost to Bayern and Galatasaray, in last place.
“We feel ready to win a very difficult game tomorrow,” Tuchel said. “This competition needs to be played step by step. We feel strong enough to win the group and that’s our goal.
“It makes no sense to compare our squad with that of teams that are not in our group,” Tuchel said when asked to compare his team with the other title contenders.
Tuchel had earlier this season demanded reinforcements saying the Bayern squad was too thin.
Source: CNA
