"There could be an unfair line-up," said Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel is looking forward to his debut game as FC Bayern coach against his former club and Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund. “We are very aware of the importance. It's going to be a hot match," said Julian Nagelsmann's successor before the top game of second against first on Saturday evening (6.30 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker). "The game will have a signal effect," said Tuchel about the title fight with BVB.

On Friday, the 49-year-old was able to train with the full squad for the first time after being away from international duty; with the exception of the long-term absences Manuel Neuer and Lucas Hernández as well as the striker Mathys Tel.

“The good news is that everyone is up for it. Everyone wants to show themselves. We can draw from the full. And we want to win,” said Tuchel. The recently injured national player Jamal Musiala was also able to complete the secret session on Friday, as the new Bayern coach reported.

"It was a restless week for everyone," said Tuchel. He said nothing about formation and tactics. There could be "an unfair lineup" because after such a short time with the team he "has few arguments to leave someone out".

He has "full confidence in the team. Players are used to playing such big games. When you arrive at Bayern Munich in April and you're a point behind the leaders and in the quarter-finals of the cup and the Champions League, you have to play for every title. This is our focus. We want to build consistency. When you watch our games, you have to see our play, our energy. April and May are very important weeks for clubs like Bayern Munich, which define themselves through titles. Then the air gets thinner. The club is more used to having an advantage in the league and being able to concentrate on the Champions League and the Cup. There's a lot of pressure, that's for sure. The best thing is to acknowledge that and see it as a challenge. Everyone is used to it here. It's an unusual time to come to a club of this level. But we'll do our best to bring it to a successful conclusion."

About his first week, Tuchel reported that it was "work, eat, sleep, repeat'".: "It felt like a month's work. You want to absorb as much as possible. It has to work, no matter how much time there is. It's very challenging and a great experience. I'm very happy to be part of such a club. I feel that it enriches my life significantly.”

When asked whether there was contact with Nagelsmann and whether working with the remaining Nagelsmann assistants was difficult, Tuchel said: "So far, the cooperation has worked without any problems because I don't ask about what happened before and I don't want to know too much about it . I would like to collect my own impressions in an unadulterated manner. Of course, people from Julian's team went with us, but some stayed. I see no reason why it shouldn't be. I wasn't playing a detective game about who was close to him and who wasn't. I myself have not sought contact with him. So far the atmosphere has been very helpful and positive. It is a great pleasure to be here.”

Tuchel described his departure from Chelsea in early September as a painful experience. It was "a shock". “There was an early meeting at 8am that was very short. I didn't want to spend a lot of time talking to the people who made that decision," he said. "We felt we were on the important road to building something. It was definitely a special relationship, it felt like family. I made a lot of friends there and still get messages. But now I have found a new challenge. I feel the energy from all sides of the club. He has great power.”

Since the top game is not only sporting explosiveness, but also confronts him personally with his past at BVB, Tuchel naturally had to look back on Friday. Although his departure from BVB ended gloriously with victory in the DFB Cup, the chemistry between him and the club management was more or less poisoned. In particular, the relationship with club boss Hans-Joachim Watzke was considered to be heavily burdened. How he would meet him now, Tuchel was asked how the relationship with Watzke was. "The relationship has rested. And as is so often the case, the waves calm down. That's cleared up now," he replied.

For Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic, meanwhile, the preparation of his team for the top game has become more complicated due to the change of coach. "Of course that changes a bit in preparing for opponents," said Terzic on Friday in Dortmund. "Due to the change of coach, you don't know exactly to what extent Thomas Tuchel will build on what Julian Nagelsmann has played in the past few weeks or whether he will bring in a completely new idea. What hasn't changed is that they still have a top coach on the bench and a top team on the pitch.” Bayern can take the lead from BVB if they win.

Despite the difficult preparation, the Dortmund coach is optimistic about the game with his team, who were unbeaten in the second half of the season. "What makes me optimistic is the energy we've built up over the past few weeks and months. This energy, this being there for each other and playing for each other: we want to take that with us.”

Also with a view to the past few years, in which Dortmund had nothing to gain in Munich, Terzic said: "We can send a signal to ourselves and to the competition. We also want to show that we are different than we have been in recent years.” BVB's last win in the Bundesliga in Munich was nine years ago, and Borussia have lost all of their last eight league games in Munich.

However, Dortmund can fall back on numerous returnees. In contrast to the 6-1 win over 1. FC Köln last matchday, Terzic goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, attacking man Julian Brandt, midfielder Salih Özcan and the two strikers Karim Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko are available again. In addition, national player Emre Can returns to the team after a yellow card suspension. The chances of playing defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who was injured last, and offensive player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens are still open.