Bayern ready for ‘loud, emotional’ Galatasaray welcome, says Tuchel

Former Schalke coach Domenico Tedesco had his side train in front of speakers blaring crowd noise before facing the Turkish giants in the 2018-19 group stage, but Tuchel said: “there’s no way to simulate that beforehand”.

Bayern Munich’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel. | Photo Credit: AFP

Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel said there was no way to replicate the “extremely loud, extremely emotional” atmosphere facing his side in their Champions League match at Galatasaray on Tuesday.

Former Schalke coach Domenico Tedesco had his side train in front of speakers blaring crowd noise before facing the Turkish giant in the 2018-19 group stage, but Tuchel said: “there’s no way to simulate that beforehand”.

“It is extremely loud, extremely emotional. That will be a factor,” he told reporters on Monday, “Galatasaray will use that to their advantage. The match is a huge challenge for us.”

Bayern is also lacking fit players, having arrived in Istanbul with a squad of just 18.

Injuries prevented Serge Gnabry, Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Guerreiro and Leon Goretzka from boarding the flight, while captain Manuel Neuer is not yet ready to return from a broken leg after almost a year on the sidelines.

Tuchel has rushed back injured full-back Noussair Mazraoui, saying: “We’ve accelerated the recovery process to the limit. If he feels safe to do so, he’ll play. Medically, it’s OK.”

Tuchel believes Galatasaray’s star striker Mauro Icardi will not play due to injury but said Bayern was prepared should the Argentinian be a late addition.

Bayern has gone a remarkable 36 Champions League group-stage matches unbeaten, including winning its past 15, but Galatasaray is on a streak of its own, having gone 17 games without a loss in all competitions this season.

Galatasaray, which sits second in the Turkish Super Lig, is also coming off a 3-2 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford last time out in Europe.

Its coach Okan Buruk said Bayern is “one of the favourites to win the Champions League”.

“Bayern have a lot of experience. After beating United, we also now want an unforgettable evening against Bayern.”

Former Schalke player Kaan Ayhan, now with Galatasaray, knows the German champions well, telling reporters, “Bayern are an opponent that punishes every little mistake. But so are we. We can also make the most of their mistakes.”