He won the Champions League and won several championships with Bayern and Liverpool – Dietmar Hamann (53) knows his stuff.
In his column for the “Sky” channel, the former national player (59 international matches) takes a look at Bayern Munich and particularly praises a star of the record champions.
Hamann on Benjamin Pavard (26): “I think Pavard is a very important player for Bayern. Without offending him, he’s a ‘water bearer’ that you need in the team as well. Not everyone can only shine at the front.”
The Sky expert explains: “Pavard is unselfish, does not put himself in the foreground. Reliable and important for balance and defensive stability, he’s always good for a goal. Although he doesn’t play in the centre, for me he is one of the most important building blocks of this Bayern team.”
Bayern’s French Benjamin Pavard celebrates his goal against Inter Milan
Foto: Getty Images
Hamann praises Pavard – and criticizes the video referee: “The excitement in the 2-0 win against Inter Milan was Mané’s handball and the subsequent decision after VAR intervention not to award a penalty. The rule (that a player can protect himself from a close-range shot as long as he doesn’t increase his body area) was new to me, but it’s open to interpretation.”
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What’s behind it
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Source: FC Bayern.TV
Hamann continued: “If I’m able to raise my hands when shooting from seven or eight meters, I’m probably also able to take my head away. It was a reflex from Mané, but there’s no question for me that it was a punishable handball. It’s a mystery to me how you can’t give a penalty like that.”
From Hamann’s point of view, the hand rule is outdated and should now be adjusted. “Because in nine out of ten cases the team that commits the handball doesn’t even have an advantage. In Lisbon, the Sporting defender is pushed from behind, touches the ball with his hand and there are penalties. In Munich, Mané gets away without a penalty. Nobody knows anymore, not even the referees themselves,” said Hamann.
