Thomas Tuchel has warned Arsenal that Bayern Munich “want to cause them pain” in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
The Bayern boss, who managed Chelsea in 2021-2022, returns to London to face the Premier League leaders on Tuesday.
Tuchel’s men are 16 points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat against Heidenheim.
Despite a poor league campaign, Tuchel insists his team can harm the Gunners.
“Arsenal are currently the best team in the Premier League and they deserve it, all the data shows it,” Tuchel said at a press conference on Monday.
“They are in great form and have played at the highest level for the last two seasons, so this is a huge test for us.
“This is their second year in which they play at such a high level, they have a lot of energy on the pitch and can maintain it for a long time.
“We know what our strengths are and how we want to hurt them. We know that the Champions League is a competition in which we have gained more experience over the last few years. We want to use this to our advantage.”
Arsenal finished fifth during Tuchel’s first full season as Chelsea manager in 2021–22.
Tuchel credited Gunners boss Mikel Arteta as the reason for his or her promotion in recent years.
We know what our strengths are and the way we wish to hurt them
Tomasz Tuchel
“There has been a complete change in the culture since Arteta joined, it is clear which direction the club wanted to go with him and the club is taking advantage of that,” he added.
“It was a difficult start, but the team supported him and overcame the difficult phase.
“Tactically, they are at a very high level, they are very stable with the ball. You have to give them a big compliment.
Still, we will try to be strong. The style in the Champions League is different from that in the Premier League.
Former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane worked at the Etihad Stadium with Arteta, who was Pep Guardiola’s assistant until 2019.
Sane credited the current Arsenal boss with developing him as a young player.
He said: “It was great and I was pleased to work with him as he helped me a lot at City. We had several conversations about how I can improve my game, what my strengths and weaknesses are.
“I think I made a lot of progress thanks to his ideas and what he gave me. I still remember them.”
Tuesday’s clash will see former Bayern Tottenham striker Harry Kane tackle the Gunners again, having scored 32 goals to this point in his debut season in the Bundesliga.
Tuchel believes the England captain will probably be completely satisfied along with his return.
He said: “I think Harry is pleased to be here at Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“Scoring a goal will give him great joy and I don’t see anything stopping him. Harry always helps you win. It will help us perform tomorrow.”
Credit : www.independent.co.uk
