Thomas Tuchel reacting to Bayern Munich’s Champions League defeat (Picture: TNT Sports)
Thomas Tuchel has explained his controversial decision to sub off Harry Kane during Bayern Munich’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid.
Bayern were on the verge of setting up an all-German final after Alphonso Davies put the visitors 3-2 up on aggregate at the Bernabeu.
But Real Madrid staged a late comeback to stun Bayern Munich and progress to the final as they chase a record-extending 15th European Cup.
Manuel Neuer, who produced a number of great saves earlier in the game to frustrate Madrid, spilled an easy save to allow Joselu to equalise on 88 minutes.
And the Real Madrid striker, who previously had a spell in the Premier League with Stoke City, scored again in injury-time to complete a dramatic turnaround and send Carlo Ancelotti’s side through.
Kane was sitting on the bench by the time Madrid scored two late goals, having been replaced by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in the 85th minute.
Owen Hargreaves and Paul Scholes slammed Tuchel’s decision to take off the England captain but the Bayern boss says Kane’s involvement in the final 10 minutes was taken out of his hands.
Harry Kane was subbed off during Bayern’s defeat to Real Madrid (Picture: Getty)
‘We started with a front four and all four has to go out with injury or cramp,’ Tuchel told TNT Sports. ‘Kane was having back problems, it was no longer possible. The front four all said they had to go.’
On Bayern Munich’s Champions League exit, Tuchel – who looks set to leave the club at the end of the season – added: ‘It hurts. It’ll take a while to recover, but on the one hand it’s a loss where we left it all out on the pitch.
‘Of course, it’s tough to accept. It’s part of reality. No regrets. But on the other, there were too many injuries, a few too many substitutions, too many cramps.
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‘We started with a front four and by the end they were all off the pitch. And then Manu, who had been exceptional in saving us all night, made a mistake he wouldn’t make in another 100 years.’
Real Madrid, who were crowned La Liga champions at the weekend, will face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final after the German side knocked out Paris Saint-Germain in the other semi-final.
Reacting to his side’s semi-final win, Ancelotti said: ‘I think we played well but to be honest we had opportunities to control the game.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side celebrate a dramatic win at the Bernabeu (Picture: Getty)
‘We had the strength to go up when they scored. It happened again here. It’s quite usual at the Bernabeu with our supporters. With them, we can do something that is unexpected.
‘We believed. Joselu did a fantastic job. He is a fantastic striker. We did really well and had a lot of energy at the end of the game.
‘I’m going to enjoy it of course from now until the final. We have fantastic days with our supporters to celebrate the league. It will be fantastic.’
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