FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Bayern Munich v Lazio - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - March 5, 2024 Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel before the match REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo
(Reuters) - Bayern Munich may be 10 points off the top spot in the Bundesliga, but manager Thomas Tuchel remains optimistic about his side's chances to chase down leaders Bayer Leverkusen and secure a record-extending 12th straight league title.
Bayern, second on 54 points after 24 matches, host lowly-placed Mainz 05 on Saturday and are looking to maintain the momentum after their 3-0 Champions League round of 16 win over Lazio earlier in the week.
The former Chelsea boss, who will leave Bayern at the end of the season, said that while the gap with Leverkusen might not be small, things are far from over.
"We haven't handed over the title," Tuchel told reporters on Friday. "There's an area between giving up and a statement of intent — and that's called reality.
"The gap is very big. That's realistic. For us, it's about being more stable and finding new stability. That always starts with the next step. We need to win, win, win.
"It's no longer in our own hands. Leverkusen no longer feel us breathing down their neck. We're to blame there. But that doesn't release us from our duty to give everything tomorrow."
The German said the mood within the squad was positive.
"There's always big hope. Obviously experiences and results like that (Lazio) help us, should give us courage and confidence," he added.
"When you pull on the Bayern jersey, it's about performing. That's the same tomorrow. We want the maximum tomorrow. We hope the win gives us confidence and we can follow it with more wins."
French winger Kingsley Coman will return from injury after the international break if everything goes to plan, Tuchel said.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
