HEIDENHEIM – Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund guaranteed coach Thomas Tuchel would be in the dugout for the Champions League game on April 9 at Arsenal, despite the shock 3-2 loss to Heidenheim on April 6.

Bayern had a two-goal lead at half-time but conceded three goals to the promoted club, which left Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen – who won 1-0 at Union Berlin – on the cusp of a first Bundesliga title.

Leverkusen are 16 points clear and need just one win from their remaining six games to lift the title, with Bayern having won the previous 11 league crowns.

Freund said Tuchel would “100 per cent” be in charge for the quarter-final first leg in London, despite admitting “losing twice in a week is incredible”.

“In three days we’ve got a very important match. Thomas was trying to bring back energy, to see what things need to be changed and what isn’t working,” he said.

Tuchel won the Champions League as Chelsea manager in 2021, having taken Paris Saint-Germain to the final the year before, when they lost to Bayern.

Bayern lost at home to Borussia Dortmund on March 30, the visitors’ first win in Munich since 2014.

Freund also reserved some harsh criticism for Bayern’s players, saying giving up the lead was “unacceptable”.

“Every player must look in the mirror after the match and ask themselves if they gave everything for the team,” he added.

“We cannot concede three goals in the second half after leading 2-0 at the break.

“We need to ask ourselves questions as a group.

“This is not acceptable.”

Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt, who has been in charge for over 16 years and taken the club to the top flight from the fifth tier of German football, implied Bayern were complacent.

“A lot of teams come here and think about how big the win will be. But we took risks and attacked the goal in the second half.”

Bayern looked to be cruising to a comfortable win after first-half goals from Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry.

But the hosts struck back with two goals in two minutes –from Kevin Sessa and Tim Kleindienst – to stun Bayern.

Heidenheim comfortably held off any Bayern attack and gradually built up pressure. They were rewarded when Kleindienst completed a counter-attack for the club’s most memorable win.

“In 10-15 minutes in the second half, we gave away everything we had built up until that point,” said Tuchel. “We had chances to turn the game again. But then we conceded a goal way too easily.

“I can’t explain it. Obviously we struggle to keep our concentration on a high level.

“It is difficult to explain. I can describe it but it is difficult to explain.” AFP, REUTERS