Pressure mounts on Bayern coach Tuchel after Lazio defeat

Coach Thomas Tuchel has the backing of Bayern Munich officials and players despite a latest defeat but the alarm bells are ringing that the club could face a first season in 12 years without silverware.

Tuchel and the team can not afford to falter again on Sunday in the Bundesliga at Bochum, after first losing a league topper 3-0 at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday and then also crashing 1-0 on Wednesday at Italy's Lazio in a Champions League last 16 first leg game.

Bayern played a decent first half in Rome but it all unravelled as Dayot Upamecano saw red for bringing down Gustav Isaksen and Ciro Immobile converted the ensuing penalty.

"These are days you have to learn to deal with," Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said at the traditional post-game banquet.

Former Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea coach Tuchel was signed 11 months ago when Bayern bosses saw season goals endangered under Julian Nagelsmann.

Now Bayern are five points behind Leverkusen in the league, went out out in the German Cup in autumn against third division Saarbrücken, and need to turn around the deficit against Lazio to stay in Europe.

Bayern's last season without silverware dates back to 2011-12. They have since won all 11 Bundesliga titles, five German Cups and two Champions Leagues - with title trebles in 2013 and 2020.

A tight-lipped Tuchel said "no" when asked whether he was concerned about his future, and sporting director Christoph Freund backed the helmsman.

"We're all in the same boat. It's not easy now, but we'll get out of this together, that's our big goal," Freund said. "Of course, he is also struggling with the situation because he wants to see the team differently on the pitch."

Forward Thomas Müller said questions on Tuchel's future showed a lack of respect.

Tuechel said about the latest setback: "Of course we're frustrated and angry about the defeat. I don't know why, but we lost the plot at half-time. We ended up with no shots on goal, and that means you can't score either."