By the 88th minute, Bayern were 1-0 up after the 2-2 draw in the first leg and had one foot in the premier class final. But then the “magic” of the record holder came into play, as did Joselu. The 34-year-old native of Stuttgart with a Spanish passport has been a Real fan since childhood and a Real player since last summer. Joselu scored for the first time seven minutes after coming on as a substitute, and another three minutes later he sank Bayern and secured the Spaniards the final against Borussia Dortmund at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 1st.
A wandering bird who didn’t settle anywhere, played for ten different clubs in the last ten years, but was unable to assert himself in either the English Premier League or the German Bundesliga. Who played for TSV Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hannover 96 and was loaned to Madrid in the summer by Spanish relegated Espanyol Barcelona. His big moment came on Wednesday.
APA/AFP/Thomas Coex Joselu received special praise from Real coach Carlo Ancelotti for his brace as a “Joker”.
In the CL, Joselu only played around a quarter of all possible minutes of play, and in La Liga at least half. “He is a player who has contributed a lot this season, even though he hasn’t played much,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, praising the match winner. “He is the perfect symbol for this team: players who contribute a lot without losing their confidence (when they don’t play) and the idea that they can bring something to the team.”
“Magic” turnaround even for Ancelotti
Even the Italian coaching legend, who is aiming for his fifth CL triumph, could not fully explain why his team managed to turn things around in such a dramatic way after Alphonso Davies’ 1-0 lead (68′). “It happened again (…) and because it happened so often, it’s a bit inexplicable,” said Ancelotti, who then made a few points: “It happened again, thanks to the fans who push us, a fantastic atmosphere in the stadium and thanks to players who never stop believing they can do it. It’s something magical.”
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Furious finish brings Real into the final
Konrad Laimer also felt this magic “first-hand”. “I don’t think there can be anything worse for a footballer,” said the ÖFB team player about Bayern’s exit. “We know what Real Madrid can do. You’ve often seen them score goals at the end. You could see that they also have great individual quality and always want to. This only happens when you really want to win. That doesn’t come from anywhere, that’s simply their great strength.” Or in the words of Real striker Vinicius Junior: “That’s Real Madrid. We never give up.”
Referee apologizes for blowing the whistle too quickly
Above all, Bayern took anger, frustration and emptiness with them from the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. “We’re just angry, we left everything out there,” complained coach Thomas Tuchel, who was leaving after a titleless season, with moist eyes. The 50-year-old struggled to keep his composure, especially during his angry speech towards the referee team. The Polish referee Szymon Marciniak blew the whistle too early in the 104th minute when the ball flew into Real’s penalty area and the assistant on the sideline raised the flag. After Matthijs de Ligt’s shot into the goal, the scene could no longer be verified using video evidence. Marciniak apologized to Bayern after the final whistle, as de Ligt angrily reported.
AP/Manu Fernandez Referee Szymon Marciniak’s apology after the end of the game was no consolation for Bayern
“Of course we accept the apology as sportsmen,” said Tuchel: “But it is a semi-final. It’s not the time for apologies, honestly.” Then the coach, who had been deprived of a happy ending for Bayern, became angry. “Everyone has to reach the limit. Everyone has to suffer. Everyone must play without mistakes. The referees at this level have to do that too,” he said, his voice almost cracking.
Experts like the former top Swiss referee Urs Meier agreed with him. “One scene can ruin everything again – but the referee team didn’t do it well. That is certainly not the line that UEFA or FIFA want. When it comes to things that are in short supply, you should let things run smoothly. And then you can still watch it when it’s flipped to the other side,” Meier tells the Swiss streaming service blue sport.
Mistakes make Neuer a tragic hero
The big loser of the evening was Neuer with his mistake before the 0:1. He misjudged Vinicius Junior’s shot and let it bounce forward towards goal scorer Joselu. “Manu holds the ball 10,000 times out of 10,000. This is the 10,001st. “Time,” said Tuchel.
Tuchel on Neuer’s mistakes
Bayern Munich were eliminated from the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 defeat at Real Madrid. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was unable to hold on to a ball before the first goal was conceded. Coach Thomas Tuchel said Neuer was “the unhappiest of all”.
He felt for the 38-year-old team goalie for the German Football Association (DFB), who fought his way back into the goal after months of rehabilitation after breaking his leg in a skiing accident after the 2022 World Cup. He was Real’s nightmare that evening until the 1-1 draw. “It is impossible for Manu to make a mistake. And he’s doing it today of all days after the world class game. “That’s so bitter,” said Tuchel.
“Don’t expect a mole”
Neuer himself admitted his mistake. “I have to say that I expected the ball differently, more towards the chest. It then went a bit higher, and I didn’t expect that there was a minimal mole in that space,” said Neuer.
AP/Manu Fernandez After his mistake, Manuel Neuer was powerless to prevent Joselu from making it 1-1
Bayern then practiced declarations of war. “We have the Champions League final at home next year. That is our big goal now. This is ultimately what we call our ‘mia san mia’ reflex. That should guide us,” said CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen. Before that, the Bayern bosses around sports director Max Eberl and sports director Christoph Freund first have to present a successor to Tuchel after numerous rejections.
