Thomas Tuchel says Bayern Munich squandered the chance to use Sadio Mane punch as positive energy

Thomas Tuchel has claimed that Bayern Munich squandered the opportunity to use Sadio Mane’s blow to Leroy Sane after last week’s defeat to Manchester City as positive energy.

The former Liverpool striker was suspended for the weekend’s Hoffenheim clash after punching his team-mate in the face, leaving him with a broken lip following the 3-0 defeat in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final.

Pep Guardiola claimed in the days after that Tuchel and his Bayern Munich players could use it as positive energy to move forward, saying teams need ‘conflict’ to make them better.

“Absolutely, sometimes you need conflict to make the team closer, I’m pretty sure of that. It’s not a weakness, it will be a strength against us,” the City boss had said.

Tuchel somewhat agreed, saying it’s not necessarily a bad thing when players get angry, but added that the weekend’s 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim meant they missed the chance to take the incident on a use in a positive way.

Thomas Tuchel (right) confirmed that Sadio Mane is in the squad against Manchester City

Mane punched Bayern Munich teammate Leroy Sane after their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City

“I was hoping we would use it in the last game against Hoffenheim, but we didn’t, so now the case is already closed and the subject is dead,” he said.

“I know what Pep means, that this kind of energy in the dressing room shows that it’s alive, that the players are angry with themselves and with each other.

“But it was an incident we don’t like – it was too much. We [tried] to turn it around, we reversed the momentum and used it as positive energy in the last game, [but] it didn’t happen. I don’t think it will have a big impact, no.’

Tuchel reaffirmed that Mane would return to the side for City’s visit on Wednesday night and declined to confirm whether or not the striker, who enjoyed a brilliant record against the reigning English champions while at Liverpool, would make the starting eleven.

“Sadio will be part of the squad because we take the thing off, with last Thursday’s decision we have to wait and see if he will start,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich face an uphill battle to try to overcome the three-goal deficit in the first leg, with City punishing a rather lax defense in the second half in Manchester last week.

Tuchel urged his team to go ‘step by step’, play the game in moments and engage the Allianz Arena crowd to try and perform a miracle.

“We have to go step by step,” he said. “We want to win the first half and then anything can happen.

Sané came to Bayern Munich’s game against Hoffenheim on Saturday with a bruised lip

“It’s about having faith. At the same time, believing is not dreaming. We are responsible for our performance and creating enthusiasm among the fans. Step by step, half by half.’

“Of course there is (an opportunity),” he added. “We need momentum and at least the performance of the first leg.

“We need key moments to be on our side. We didn’t have that in the first leg. We were punished bitterly. We all know the task ahead and that it is extremely difficult.”

The winner of Bayern Munich vs City will take on Chelsea vs Real Madrid’s victory at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening. The Spanish champions lead 2-0 on aggregate after the first leg.