Bayern Munich star speaks candidly after narrowly avoiding defeat against Leverkusen with nine players

Defender Jonathan Tah states that Bayern Munich showed their character by earning a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen, while addressing the disputed VAR rulings following the game.

After the Bundesliga's marquee match at BayArena, Jonathan Tah believes Bayern Munich can be satisfied with earning one point given the team faced numerous challenging situations during the game.

In an interview with Sky Sports, the German defender acknowledged that Bayern always enters every match aiming for a full three points, but the reality on the pitch was far from easy.

“You always want to win and secure three points. But today we had to confront many difficult situations as well as controversial decisions on the field,” Tah shared.

Bayern demonstrates resilience in tough times

According to Tah, the most crucial aspect was how Bayern responded under pressure during the match. Despite playing in tense circumstances and facing significant pressure, especially with a packed Champions League schedule, the entire team still displayed strong unity and determination.

The 29-year-old defender emphasized that the fighting spirit itself helped Bayern retain a valuable point at Leverkusen's ground.

“Ultimately, what matters is how you handle such situations. And I think today the whole team did that very well,” Tah said.

He also believes the key factor lies in the mentality and ambition of each player in the squad.

“I think it's about mentality and desire. Everyone wants to give their utmost and fight until the end.”

Tah believes that spirit will be vital for Bayern in the upcoming phase of the season.

“That shows what kind of team we are. And that is precisely the spirit Bayern needs to maintain in the coming matches.”

VAR causes controversy in the match

Alongside the hard-fought performance, the match also sparked much debate due to VAR decisions as two Bayern goals were disallowed.

Tah was also central to a controversial incident when his goal was not recognized due to a handball offense. The German defender admitted he wasn't entirely certain about the incident.

“The ball definitely touched my elbow. I'm also unsure whether my elbow was positioned ahead of my body at that moment,” Tah said.

After reviewing the situation, he expressed respect for the referee's decision: “Ultimately, it seems it was a handball and the goal should not have counted.”

However, Tah holds a different view regarding the situation where Harry Kane's goal was disallowed for a similar offense. According to him, it was not a clear handball.

“Honestly, to me that was not a handball offense. Kane turned away from the ball and tried to keep his arm as close to his body as possible.”

The Bayern defender also believes the English striker's arm was not positioned excessively far from his body.

“I don't think his arm was too far from his body, so in my view it was not a handball.”

Nevertheless, Tah insists the team must accept the referee's decisions. For him, the most important thing is that Bayern earned a valuable point under difficult circumstances, a result that could hold significant meaning for the remainder of the season.