Tuchel "very proud" of his Bayern team: "Twelve points top"
Thomas Tuchel congratulated his players on reaching their first European milestone with ease. After beating Galatasaray Istanbul 2:1, FC Bayern Munich are through to the last 16 of the Champions League after the fourth matchday - and are already group winners. "I congratulated the team in the dressing room. I'm very proud of their performance. Twelve points is top," said the Bayern coach.
For the final group games against FC Copenhagen and Manchester United, Tuchel announced on Wednesday evening that "we will remain hungry". As in the past two seasons under predecessor Julian Nagelsmann, the 50-year-old is aiming for an unblemished six-win group stage. Munich have now won 17 group games in a row, a record for the top flight.
Tuchel did not want to see the four wins as a blemish. "Shining sometimes looks like hard work," said the Bayern coach: "The points shine for themselves." The Champions League is "the most difficult competition in world soccer". And a strong group stage is no guarantee of going very far in the knockout phase in the new year. In each of the past three seasons, the team reached the quarter-finals.
FC Bayern Munich will face challenges in the Champions League, despite their impressive group stage record, as Tuchel acknowledged that "the Champions League is the most difficult competition in world soccer." In the upcoming matches against FC Copenhagen and Manchester United, Bayern aims to continue their dominance in the group stage, as Tuchel declared, "we will remain hungry." Meanwhile, Galatasaray Istanbul will be watching the progress of their past opponents, having been eliminated from the Champions League after a 2:1 loss to Bayern Munich.
Source: www.dpa.com
