This day marks a turning point at FC Bayern. The drama at the Bernabéu causes the German Wembley final to collapse. After the first titleless year since 2012, the boss announced a “big goal”.
The anger, the frustration, the emptiness – that’s what the suffering Bayern took back with them from Madrid after one of the bitterest Munich football nights. Severely defeated, the team around the extremely emotional coach Thomas Tuchel and Manuel Neuer, who was struggling with his inexcusable goalkeeping mistake, began the work of mourning.
Everything was lost, everything was lost – after another Munich Champions League drama in the 1:2 (0:0) against Real Madrid, there will be no grandiose German Wembley rematch against Borussia Dortmund in London on June 1st. Rather, Bayern’s first titleless season since 2012 ends on a dreary note with Tuchel’s farewell game on May 18th in the Bundesliga against TSG Hoffenheim.
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“We’re just angry, we left everything out there,” complained Tuchel with wet eyes. The 50-year-old struggled to keep his composure, especially during his angry speech towards the referee team. “It was a real fight. We put in the punch and are almost over the finish line.” And then thanks to Real’s double joker Joselu, victory slipped away from his team in the Bernabéu, which had been cursed for years. Real just always survives.
From Bayern’s perspective, it seemed like the 1999 final against Manchester United with the last-minute goals that made it 2-1 for the English team. And the newcomer, who held like a titan for a long time on Wednesday evening, had to feel like Oliver Kahn after the brutal mistake in the 2002 World Cup final when the national team lost 2-0 to Brazil. “I feel bad,” Neuer stammered. Crazy: Former CEO Kahn experienced the Neuer tragedy live in the stands.
May 8, 2024 marks a turning point in the Bavarian cosmos, in which only winners and titles count. And where total seasonal disasters have always been responded to with force and major investments. Club patron Uli Hoeneß was there in Madrid – and he will hardly be able to rest at home on Lake Tegernsee. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen was the first to publicly rush forward with a declaration of war in the team hotel on Thursday night. In his banquet speech, the 56-year-old recalled the traumatic loss of the 2012 premier class final in the home arena against Chelsea FC.
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Dreesen took a piece of paper out of his jacket and then read out: “Thomas Müller wrote in the team chat at home the day after the final: ‘Heads up, boys. What happened yesterday hurts extremely. But next year we’ll fight back.””
And that’s exactly what he wants to say as boss to the Bayern professionals of the 2024 class: “Keep your head up! You played fantastically, you can’t blame yourself. Our goal must be to look forward from tomorrow.”
Then came the announcement that will shape the next twelve months at Bayern: “We have the Champions League final at home next year. That’s our big goal now. That’s ultimately what we as our Mia san mia- “Reflex. That should guide us,” Dreesen announced to the empty-eyed captain Neuer, the 1-0 scorer Alphonso Davies and the many noble fans. They had nothing big to celebrate in the five-star “Villa Magna” hostel in Madrid.
A reflex like the one after the three second places in 2012, which Jupp Heynckes, who was not fired at the time, followed up with the triumphant triple year of 2013? To achieve this, the first thing the Bayern bosses around sports director Max Eberl have to do is present a successor to Tuchel after a number of coaching rejections. The squad needs fresh impulses and “mia-san-mia” football.
Like Tuchel, Neuer and Eberl, Dreesen struggled with “not being able to crown the big dream of an exceptionally good Champions League season with the German final at Wembley.” Dortmund against Real is the fight to win the title. “It will certainly be an exciting game,” said Dreesen with a look of suffering.
In the crazy Bernabéu, Bayern had withstood a lot of resistance until the unfortunate 88th minute. Tuchel had to replace all four offensive players – Gnabry (next muscle injury), Sané, Musiala and striker Harry Kane, whose back was closed. And then there was an offside whistle that outraged the people of Munich collectively. Matthijs de Ligt’s 2-2 in the 13th minute of stoppage time didn’t count.
Tuchel’s referee scolding: “Not the moment for apologies”
Tuchel could hardly contain his anger at the referee team around Szymon Marciniak in the press room. The 43-year-old Pole whistled too early when the ball flew into Real’s penalty area and the assistant on the sideline pulled up the flag. After de Ligt’s shot into the goal, the scene could no longer be checked using video evidence. Marciniak apologized to Bayern after the final whistle, as de Ligt angrily reported.
“Of course we accept the apology as sportsmen,” said Tuchel: “But it’s a semi-final. It’s not the moment 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 has to play without mistakes. The referees at this level have to do the same,” he said, his voice almost cracking.
With each of his angry sentences he slammed his hand on the podium. “It just doesn’t help if you say sorry afterwards. If you can’t deliver, it doesn’t help,” complained Tuchel about the renowned match director of the 2022 World Cup final.
“Manu holds the ball 10,000 times out of 10,000”
The big loser of the evening was Manuel Neuer with his mistake before the 0:1. He misjudged Real attacker Vinicius Junior’s shot and let it ricochet forward towards goalscorer Joselu. “Manu holds the ball 10,000 times out of 10,000 times. That’s the 10,001st time,” said Tuchel. He felt for the 38-year-old national goalkeeper, who fought his way back into goal after months of rehab 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’s impossible for Manu to make a mistake. And he made it today of all days after the world-class game. That’s so bitter,” said Tuchel. “Because if there’s anyone who doesn’t deserve this, it’s Manu. We know where he comes from. We know what he’s done, what he’s done for it. Nobody will point the finger at him. He is the unluckiest of all.”
As a matter of fact. “We were already one step into the final,” groaned Neuer. But the 38-year-old has a strong mind. Prediction: Neuer will want to play a very strong home European Championship.
dpa
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