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Thomas Tuchel happy to pay price as Bayern Munich tread on Lazio's toes

Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel (L) was grateful for Harry Kane's finishing against Lazio
Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel (L) was grateful for Harry Kane's finishing against Lazio

Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel's pre-match pep talk worked wonders as his side beat Lazio to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals but it came at a cost to his toe.

Tuchel, who will leave Bayern at the end of the season after just over a year in charge, said he kicked a box in the changing room during his speech to his players with the German champions desperate for a win to turn their season around.

The Bavarians had won just one of their previous five matches in all competitions before Tuesday's game, which they won 3-0, to advance 3-1 on aggregate.

"The motivational speech before the game cost me my right toe," Tuchel said.

"I was treated on the spot but did not have the courage to take the shoe off because I did not think I would get it back on."

Tuchel spent the game on the bench sitting down as his team won thanks to two goals from top scorer Harry Kane and veteran Thomas Mueller.

"They (players) must have wondered why I was sitting down for the entire 90 minutes," he said.

Bayern, who have won the previous 11 consecutive league titles, are 10 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and are also out of the German Cup.

But Kane expressed hope that the comeback victory could prove a turning point in a difficult campaign.

"It was a perfect night for us," the England striker said. "A really top performance. Everyone with energy, all around the pitch, the way we played and created chances and pressed without the ball.

"Being 1-0 behind in the first leg, obviously a big moment in our season to go through.

"We know we can improve and be better but nights like this can really change the season.

"Really proud of the boys and we've just got to keep this momentum up."

Kane admitted that playing under a manager who has already announced their intention to leave was an "unusual" situation but insisted that "We have the responsibility as players, not just to the manager but to the club as well, to give everything in every competition."

Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri rued a miss by veteran striker Ciro Immobile that would have put his side 2-0 up just before Kane scored his first goal.

"We had played well in the first half against a team that, unlike recently, played like a real Bayern," he said.

"It was to be expected, these teams often raise their game in this competition.

"We stayed in the game until the second goal, we had the chances to take the lead.

"I don't think 1-0 would've robbed us of hope, but the second goal saw us go into the locker room very disappointed and without the conviction we could turn it around."

Sarri faced criticism afterwards from former AC Milan, Real Madrid and Juventus Fabio Capello for not changing from a 4-3-3 formation that seemed to play into the hosts' hands.

"I wouldn't even dream of changing system," Sarri said. "There is another intensity also because you need three or four touches to do what your opponents can do in two. That much is obvious.

"Of course it is positive, a team like ours that manages to play in a tournament of this level being competitive with more victories than defeats, that is positive."

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