“The question is how long Kahn can continue”
FC Bayern failed in the Champions League quarter-finals for the third time in a row. After the end against Manchester City, the management level of Munich is heavily criticized. Internally, a return from Uli Hoeneß is said to have been played out, reports WELT reporter Julien Wolff.
The processing after FC Bayern’s recent exit in the quarter-finals of the Champions League is underway. Football expert Jan Aage Fjörtoft is now causing a stir. He has information that far-reaching upheavals are pending in the top management.
Dhe disappointed Munich fans seemed to have sensed that something revolutionary might be afoot at Bayern. When all hope was gone in the second leg of the Champions League against Manchester City and the third quarter-final in a row became relentless, a huge banner was unfurled in the south stand of the arena, which Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic should not have overlooked .
“Goals may be missed – not values of the club! Question leadership policy!” was read shortly before the end of the 1: 1 (0: 0). A request to the management duo, who did not achieve the hoped-for trend reversal with the change of coach from Julian Nagelsmann to Thomas Tuchel. For Bayern, after being eliminated from the DFB Cup and Champions League, the only thing that matters is the championship.
The day after, Jan Aage Fjörtoft caused a stir. The former Bundesliga striker, now a TV expert and usually just as well networked as he is informed, had already indicated somewhat cryptically in a Twitter post on the match day between Bayern and Manchester that he had heard that in the coming days there would be “significant News in German football”.
Salihamidzic is said to be “saved for the time being” at Bayern Munich
After Bayern were eliminated from the Champions League, he himself provided clarification early on Thursday morning. He had been told “that it was ‘an ongoing process’ and a ‘question of time’ before Oliver Kahn, the chairman of FC Bayern, was removed from his post.”
Fjörtoft apparently relied on the results of the supervisory board, which is responsible for such personal details. According to his information, “President Hainer is said to be interim chairman. Even a comeback by Hoeneß was discussed”. The “most likely candidate among the ex-Bayern players”, Fjörtoft said in his four-part tweet was “Philipp Lahm. But he has a great job as Managing Director of Euro 2024 in Germany.”
Fjörtoft apparently also had information about the sports director Salihamidzic, who was also heavily criticized. He claims to have found out about him: “Some thought that Salihamidzić wasn’t so sure, but being seen as ‘Hoeneß’s man’ seems to save him for the time being.” He also summed up the situation. “A coach has to win the dressing room. A CEO must win over employees. There is a feeling that Kahn has never been convincing and therefore does not have enough lobby / support when push comes to shove like now.” So did the board discuss Kahn’s replacement? “No, these rumors aren’t true,” Hainer insisted in his capacity as chairman of the supervisory board when asked about this.
Kahn defends himself
Kahn himself defended the night of the duel against Manchester, which suffered from the 3-0 loss in the first leg, once again the club management’s change of coach from Nagelsmann to Tuchel in the middle of the decisive phase of the season. “We are totally convinced that with Thomas Tuchel we will sooner or later be back where we all want to be, namely at the top – also in Europe,” said Kahn.
Bayern boss Kahn
Which: Getty Images/Boris Streubel
He knows “how it is here when goals are not achieved. I’m a very reflective person. Only at the moment I don’t have much time to think about it,” he said: “Now the focus is on what we can still achieve, that’s the German championship. We question ourselves constantly. Now our full concentration is on the title that we can still win this season.” Kahn’s contract runs until December 31, 2024. Nothing is known of talks about an early extension.
Salihamidzic explained on Wednesday night that you always question yourself. “We work for the club and try to do the best. Of course you have to live with criticism because the results weren’t there,” he said: “Nevertheless, I’m of course confident because I know what kind of team we have, what kind of coach we have now and we will do everything for it do that success returns in all competitions.”
In this great Munich malaise, shortly after the end of the game, Tuchel was also asked how he rated the supporters’ protest note. “I can promise the fans that we will take care of the club’s values,” he said. In general, however, what the still extremely influential supervisory board Uli Hoeneß formulated in 2017 is primarily true: “In the long run, a title is a little bit little for us.” Therefore, in the end, the same should apply to Kahn as to Nagelsmann: He has to be measured by results.
