Coach Thomas Tuchel stated on Monday that Bayern Munich would need to exert pressure if they are to perform well and overcome a 1-0 disadvantage against Lazio in Tuesday’s Champions League Round of 16 return home leg.

Tuchel is expected to go at the end of the season, one year ahead of his contract, and the Bavarians are far from their best, having only managed one win in their previous five games in all competitions.

They dropped 10 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga after a disastrous 2-2 draw at Freiburg on Friday.

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“I think the situation for us is very clear but for a top performance there needs to be a certain pressure,” Tuchel told a press conference.

“Our most recent results, including the first leg loss in Italy, mean that this won’t feel super-easy tomorrow.

“Pressure is necessary. It will be there tomorrow.”

“We need to win by two goals against an Italian team, a Maurizio Sarri team. The bar is high,” Tuchel said.

The Bavarians, who have taken home eleven domestic league crowns in the previous eleven years and most recently won a Champions League trophy in 2020, could miss out on any hardware this year.

Tuchel would have to leave even sooner if his team doesn’t advance in the Champions League on Tuesday.

“Not from my side,” said the coach when asked if Bayern’s potential elimination could mean an immediate exit for him.

“I know what we have agreed on and what we have communicated but you can be sure there is no one who has more ambition than me to win the game tomorrow,” added Tuchel.

“Tomorrow every minute will count. Patience yes, if it is about not getting frustrated if things take a bit longer.

“Patience no, if it is only about generating possession. We have no time to waste,” he said.

“Time is on Lazio’s side so we need to play with a cool head but still have emotion and with emotion step on the gas and play for goals.”