3 mistakes Thomas Tuchel made in UCL semifinal defeat to Real Madrid

Here are three mistakes Tuchel made that ultimately led to Bayern's UCL exit against Real Madrid.

1. Sitting back and inviting pressure

Tuchel's decision to sit back and soak up Real Madrid's pressure proved to be a costly mistake.

Bayern's defense was under constant siege, with the hosts enjoying 58% possession in the first half.

This approach put immense pressure on the Bayern defense and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who eventually cracked under the strain.

Real Madrid's constant pressure led to 19 shots on goal, with 11 of those coming in the second half as Bayern retreated even deeper.

2. Failure to make in-game adjustments

Tuchel's inability to adapt and adjust during the game was alarming as several players struggled.

Joshua Kimmich struggled to contain Vinicius Junior all night, as a tough task got even tougher.

Meanwhile, Aleksandar Pavlovic looked out of his depth for long periods. Despite these struggles, Tuchel opted to ride his luck, hoping that Bayern's lone goal would be enough to secure victory.

However, this allowed Real Madrid to dictate the pace of the game and ultimately turn the tide in their favor.

3. Poor substitutions

Tuchel's substitutions in the second half effectively killed Bayern's attacking momentum and handed the initiative to Real Madrid.

The introductions of Choupo-Moting and Thomas Muller, while taking off Harry Kane, and Jamal Musiala offered very little and allowed Real Madrid to regain control of the game.

Muller, in particular, struggled to make an impact, completing just 6 touches in his 14 minutes on the pitch.