Revamped Scenario:
Bayern Postpones Cologne Trip for Fresher Journey
The twist in the tale!
With the national team players returning from international assignments just a day ago, FC Bayern's next Bundesliga clash is against 1. FC Köln on Friday (8:30 PM/DAZN).
Let's talk about that peculiar Bundesliga trip that's been a regular occurrence in the DFB Cup!
The timing of the Köln match presents an issue, as most of Thomas Tuchel's (50) stars have had a ten-day international break. The plan is to skip another hotel night, as returning to Munich after the 90 minutes in Köln is no longer an option due to the late evening time.
What a coach! Tuchel also has a team session lined up at Säbener Straße prior to setting off on Friday, with an activation session scheduled beforehand.
Even before the international break, Tuchel had voiced his disapproval of the clash scheduling, sarcastically commenting: "Of course, this is a fantastic match-up for FC Bayern Munich."
Here's the intrigue: even if the decision makes sense, it seems to stir up past unpleasant memories.
Remember some of Bayern's recent misadventures on matchdays? The disastrous cup exit at third-division side Saarbrücken at the beginning of November (1-2) was the most dramatic. The embarrassing cup defeats in Gladbach (5-0) in 2021/22 and at second-division side Kiel (5-6 on penalties) in 2020/21 were also preceded by narrow escapes.
Contrast that with the first-round victories this season at Preußen Münster (4-0) and last season's 5-0 triumph at Viktoria Köln.
Regardless, those setbacks in Saarbrücken, Gladbach, and Kiel serve as warnings for Bayern to keep their senses sharp after Friday's journey to Köln, to steer clear of another shock.
On the other hand, the responsible authorities must pray for a trouble-free journey given the packed schedule. Remember, even minor delays on matchday trips can disturb the usual player preparations.
Just a heads-up: the first snowfall is predicted for Munich on Friday. The club will definitely keep an eye on the weather.
- Regio Sport Munich's Instagram articles today include updates about Tuchel postponing FC Bayern's trip to 1. FC Cologne in the Bundesliga.
- In an article published on bundesliga, Tuchel voiced his dissatisfaction with the scheduling of the Köln game, sarcastically referring to it as "a fantastic match-up" for FC Bayern Munich.
- Despite the delay, FC Bayern will still face 1. FC Köln in the Bundesliga on Friday at 8:30 PM, with the game scheduled to air on DAZN.
- The reason for postponing the journey is to prevent the team from having to spend another night in a hotel after the game, given the late time on Friday and the short break after the international break.
- The coach also has a second team meeting at Säbener Straße planned prior to the journey, with an activation session set for before Friday.
- The last time Bayern traveled to Köln, they succumbed to a humbling 1-2 defeat in the DFB Cup, highlighting the importance of coming out strong after the trip and remaining focused against the 17th-placed team in the table.
Insight:
Thomas Tuchel, previously the manager of Borussia Dortmund, was involved in controversy regarding the Borussia Dortmund team bus bombing incident in 2017. However, there's no mention of him postponing FC Bayern's trip to 1. FC Cologne in the Bundesliga in the provided information. As Tuchel left Bayern in February 2023, any decisions about match scheduling were made under the new management or club administration.
