Tuchel slams UEFA's handling of rescheduled match after bus attack

Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel launched a scathing criticism of UEFA following his side’s 3-2 loss to Monaco on Wednesday, claiming the governing body didn’t give the German team enough time to recover following the frightening bus attack that rocked his players a day earlier.

Related: First arrest made after bus attack; Dortmund vows to ‘pull together’

The match, originally slated for Tuesday, was rescheduled after three explosives targeted the Dortmund bus as it was making the trip from the team hotel to the Westfalenstadion.

Defender Marc Bartra was injured in the ordeal, requiring wrist surgery after being hit by falling glass.

Related: Bartra thanks fans for support, out ‘several weeks’ after bus explosions

One person “from the Islamist spectrum” has been arrested, according to a spokeswoman for Germany’s federal prosecutor, with another suspect being detained.

Dortmund presented a strong, united front after the terrifying attack – club executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said the club wanted to show “that terror and hatred can never dictate our actions” – but after Wednesday’s contest, Tuchel hit out at the manner in which UEFA handled proceedings.

“We were never asked, we were informed by a text message that the UEFA made a decision in Switzerland. It felt lousy. And that sticks with us,” he told reporters.

“Minutes after the attacks the only question was whether the game could go through or not. We were treated as if a beer can was thrown at the bus. It gives you a feeling of impotence.

“It will stick with us that we have to function and that everything else plays no role. We are outside of the bus, Marc (Barta) gets driven away in an ambulance, and we are informed about the decision. It does not feel good.”

Tuchel added: “We left it open to every player if he wants to play,” he added. “We realised this morning that training is a distraction. Every player, every human, and this attack was on us as humans, can be scared stiff by this. But all of them wanted to play.

“We would have wanted to have more time to digest all of this. We did not get this time. We have to live with the fact that the match was scheduled. It’s about our dream, our big dream, and the squad did not have the feeling they could make the difference in the small situations.”

The return fixture in Monaco is scheduled for next Wednesday.