Bayern Munich: Sven Ulreich reveals key change in squad from last season
The good run of results for Bayern Munich in the group stages of the Champions League continued on Tuesday. The Bavarian club came from behind to clinch a 2-1 victory against FC Copenhagen on matchday two of the Champions League. Courtesy of the win in Copenhagen, Bayern also became the first team in Champions League history to go unbeaten in 18 group stage away games in a row.
Die Roten were far from their best on Tuesday, but they showed great character to make a comeback after conceding the goal in the 55th minute. Thomas Tuchel made the right substitutes in the second half that helped Bayern to improve the tempo of the game and clinch the victory.
After scoring the crucial second goal late in the game, Rekordmeister saw out the game by keeping the ball. However, Sven Ulreich was called upon to make one incredible save in the dying minutes of the game to preserve Bayern’s lead. It was an unfortunate deflection from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting that was going into goal until Ulreich intervened.
Ulreich had a difficult game against RB Leipzig on Saturday, but he did a fine job against FC Copenhagen. While talking to Kicker after the game, Ulreich admitted that the team is much more resilient than last season. The 35-year-old goalkeeper believes that they would have collapsed if the game against Copenhagen had taken place last season.
"“Last season, we would have completely thrown away such a game, conceded a second goal and would have rushed forward without any sense.”"
Bayern did struggle last season to mount comebacks. They would often lose intensity in the second half. One small setback and they would often collapse. This poor habit did cost them in the Champions League and DFB Pokal. They almost lost the Bundesliga title on the final day due to this trend in their performances.
Things have changed this season, but the sample size is small. They came back from a goal down away at Borussia Monchengladbach on matchday three to clinch all three points. The Bavarian club also showed great character away at RB Leipzig last weekend to salvage a point after being two goals down in the first half.
Along with a better mentality and resilience in the squad, Tuchel’s substitutes and game management have also helped Bayern to mount such type of comebacks. Mathys Tel and Thomas Muller came off the bench against Copenhagen to combine for the winner in the 81st minute.
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The sample size is small to make such a judgment about the squad’s resilience, but the early signs are really good. Tuchel needs to make sure that such type of comebacks are rare and Die Roten needs to regularly dominate games. It becomes draining for players if they have to make comebacks every odd game, making the impressive comebacks into a worrying trend.