Bayern's Neuer and others to miss Heidenheim match; Tuchel frustrated
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer remains sidelined for Bayern Munich's Bundesliga match in Heidenheim as one of five absent players, coach Thomas Tuchel said on Friday as he also voiced big frustration about a below par season.
Neuer, 38, sustained an adductor injury more than two weeks ago while at the national team.
He missed friendly international victories against France and the Netherlands, as well as Bayern's following 2-0 Bundesliga defeat against Borussia Dortmund which effectively ended their title hopes as they slipped 13 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Sven Ulreich is set to deputise as usual at mid-table Heidenheim while Neuer aims to be back for Tuesday's Champions League first leg quarter-final at England's Arsenal.
Also missing on Saturday are forwards, Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sané, midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic and full back Noussair Mazraoui.
"None of the five is rested for Tuesday. They are not in the squad because they aren't fully fit, so there is also a question mark for Tuesday. There is no tendency, every minute counts," Tuchel said.
Tuchel said "we have to make up for last weekend" in their first ever trip to Heidenheim before starting to think about Arsenal.
"Tomorrow, it's a classic case of David v Goliath, in front of a passionate fan base that will get behind the home team," he said.
"We also have a big game coming up after that we're also focused on, but we can't just skip ahead to it."
But Tuchel also named the Champions League the only remaining real chance to avoid a first year without silverware since 2012, given a shock German Cup exit in autumn against third division Saarbrücken and the big Bundesliga deficit.
"There is one goal, to go to Wembley" for the final, Tuchel said, and that it was "essential to subordinate everything to achieving this goal."
Looking at the big picture, Tuchel named the season "frustrating and unsatisfactory.
"I'm really unhappy with myself and how we unfortunately played against Dortmund again. I thought we were over it and wouldn't take the step back," he said.
Tuchel will be leaving in summer but insisted that he "will not let anyone, including myself, off the hook until the end. It's absolutely unacceptable for us to let up even 1%."
