Coach Thomas Tuchel has named the announcement of his summer departure at Bayern Munich as a chance for the team and himself for the rest of the season.
Bundesliga champions Bayern said on Wednesday in the wake of three defeats in a row that they would part ways with Tuchel after the season. Tuchel came to Bayern 11 months ago on a contract until 2025.
Bayern are eight points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and need to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Italy's Lazio to stay alive in the Champions League.
They face a first season without silverware since 2012 but Tuchel said in his first public statements on the eve of Saturday's match against RB Leipzig that the announcement could also be a turning point.
"There's clarity now, and clarity gives freedom. Freedom is always good, both for coaches and players," Tuchel told reporters.
"We love football and what we do. For me, it doesn't matter if my contract is for five weeks or five years. The only thing that matters is the here and now. The situation is different now, but that won't play a role. I love the job and obviously will do the job with the same energy as before.
"We have aims and will still try to win the league. We won't give up until it's finally over. We've got a second leg to come in the Champions League too - we are playing to go as far as we can there as well."
Looking back at the developments of the last days, he said: "We spoke on Tuesday and then informed the team and the public on Wednesday.
"We are unhappy with the way we are playing and with our points tally after the three recent defeats. There is not just one person to blame, but I'm the one who takes the responsibility. The development and results that I'd like to be seeing aren't there."
Looking at the game against Leipzig, who won the last two games in Munich, Tuchel has a long injury list but Konrad Laimer could be fit to face his former club.
"Tomorrow will be a really tough game. Our recent results against Leipzig show that. They have lots of ways of hurting us," he said.
"Everybody needs to know that we have to be at our best, both physically and mentally. Due to injuries, we're lacking a bit of pace and a right-back too. We will find solutions for that and go for it tomorrow."
Leipzig won 3-1 in Munich in May to almost deny them the Bundesliga title, and 3-0 in the German Super Cup in August, but coach Marco Rose does not believe the current situation at the champions will give them a better chance to win there for a third time.
"These are lads who have learnt over the years to be winners," Rose said.
"They've all won the Champions League, have been German champions umpteen times and are currently struggling with a situation that they don't want. And they will do everything they can to do better."
