File photo: Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, southern Germany, on March 20, 2021. (Photo by ANDREAS GEBERT / POOL / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich said on Monday they expect the Covid-19 pandemic to cost them 150 million euros ($178 million) in lost match-day revenue.
Just a few hundred fans were allowed in for their final game last season, the only Bayern match at the Allianz Arena where spectators have been admitted since the pandemic first hit Germany in March 2020.
Bayern president Herbert Hainer confirmed the forecasted loss after so many games behind closed doors, but insisted “our ambitions have not diminished”.
The new Bundesliga season starts on August 13 and Bayern hope health regulations in Bavaria will allow a limited number of fans to watch their first home game against Cologne on August 21 at the 75,000-capacity stadium.
The club’s new chairman and CEO Oliver Kahn said they want fans back in the stadium as soon as possible “but safety remains the priority”.
Kahn also stated next season’s target is to win a tenth straight Bundesliga title, “that’s our big goal. It’s never been done before in the top European leagues”.
In-coming new coach Julian Nagelsmann is tasked with keeping Bayern top of the German league.
Kahn also revealed the club is in contract-extension talks with midfielders Leon Goretzka and Kingsley Coman.
Goretkza has a year left on his contract, Coman has two, but both are “very, very important players”, Kahn said, who have been offered “generous” packages.
Kahn admitted Bayern are eager to avoid a repeat of last season when David Alaba refused to sign an extension and left to join Real Madrid for free after his contract expired.
Bayern Munich said on Tuesday Karl-Heinz Rummenigge will step down after 30 years in the club’s hierarchy at the end of this month with former Germany captain Oliver Kahn taking over as chairman.
Rummenigge had been due to see out his contract which expires at the end of 2021, but is leaving six months early to meet the end of the financial year on June 30.
“It is strategically the most sensible and logical point in time,” said Rummenigge, 65, with Kahn, 51, to be Bayern’s chairman when the new season starts in August.
“It is a farewell with satisfaction and pride. That was important to me,” he added.
Rummenigge’s departure will herald a new era at Bayern for the start of next season with Julian Nagelsmann, 33, also replacing Hansi Flick as coach for the campaign.
Rummenigge joined the club’s management in 1991 as vice-president and then became chairman in 2002, overseeing an incredible period of success.
With Rummenigge on board, Bayern won the Bundesliga 19 times and lifted the Champions League trophy in 2001, 2013 and 2020.
A former striker who made 95 appearances for West Germany, Rummenigge played for Bayern from 1974 to 1984.
He was part of the team which won the European Cup twice and was voted the Ballon d’Or winner in both 1980 and 1981.
However, Kahn has a pedigree to match having won the Bundesliga title eight times in 14 years at Bayern before retiring in 2008.
He earned the nickname ‘Vol-Kahn-o’ with his fiery temper and fierce determination to win.
The former goalkeeper played 86 times for Germany, captaining them to defeat against Brazil in the 2002 World Cup final and made 632 appearances for Bayern.
“As chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has done great work for Bayern for over 20 years,” said Kahn, who has been tipped as their next chairman since joining the club’s board in January 2020.
“During this time, the club has won everything there was to win – you can’t rate his services to Bayern highly enough.
“The time has now come for me to take on responsibility at the top of Bayern Munich.
“In the past 18 months, I have got to know all facets of the club.
“I know what challenges we are facing. I am aware of the task and I am very much looking forward to it.”
In this file photo taken on May 22, 2021 Bayern Munich’s Austrian defender David Alaba gestures prior the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayern Munich vs FC Augsburg in Munich, southern Germany. CHRISTOF STACHE / POOL / AFP
Austrian defender David Alaba will join Real Madrid on a five-year contract after leaving Bayern Munich, the Spanish giants confirmed on Friday.
The announcement of the signing of the 28-year-old, who had also been linked with several English Premier League clubs, comes a day after Zinedine Zidane quit as Real coach.
“Real Madrid has reached an agreement with David Alaba, who will be linked to the club for the next five seasons,” Madrid said in a statement.
Alaba will be presented as a Real player after Euro 2020, the statement added.
The Austria international has been hugely successful at Bayern, having won two Champions League trophies and 10 league titles among other silverware.
Alaba had said in February that he would leave Bayern when his contract expires at the end of the season after 13 years with the German club.
Alaba and Bayern were in talks about a new contract but the club said in November 2020 that the negotiations had broken down, reportedly over the player’s salary.
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates with the trophy for the leading goal scorer of the Bundesliga season after the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayern Munich vs FC Augsburg in Munich, southern Germany, on May 22, 2021. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / POOL / AFP)
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski said it felt like being in a “science fiction film” as he scored his 41st Bundesliga goal of the season on Saturday to break Gerd Mueller’s 49-year-old German league record for a single campaign.
Lewandowski scored in the 90th minute of Bayern’s 5-2 home win over Augsburg having equalled Mueller’s record of 40, which was set in 1971/72, last weekend.
Lewandowski broke Mueller’s mark with a classic poacher’s effort, rounding the Augsburg goalkeeper to fire home having snapped up the rebound after Leroy Sane’s shot was parried just before the whistle.
“You wait for 90 minutes and then it comes in the last few seconds,” Lewandowski told Sky.
“It was like being in a science fiction film. I’ve lost my voice.
“I saw Leroy shoot for goal, I had to keep believing and luckily it came off.”
Lewandowski claimed the record having had his six previous shots all saved as Bayern were presented with the Bundesliga trophy after the final whistle for the ninth straight season
They finished the season 13 points clear in the table.
“I was a little bit disappointed to have not scored sooner, but sometimes such records have to be fought for,” added Lewandowski.
“I was patient and believed until the end. I thank my team, who share the record with me.”
It was the last game for Bayern head coach Hansi Flick, who will be replaced by Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann next season having won seven titles over the last 18 months.
At the other end of the table, Werder Bremen were relegated on the last day of the season after 40 years in Germany’s top flight.
Cologne’s 1-0 home win over bottom side Schalke meant automatic relegation for Bremen, who were thumped 4-2 at home to Moenchengladbach.
This is Bremen’s first relegation since 1979/80 before coming back up the following season.
Union Berlin qualified for the new Europa Conference League play-offs finishing seventh in the table with a shock 2-1 win over second-placed RB Leipzig.
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayern Munich vs FC Augsburg in Munich, southern Germany, on May 22, 2021. – Lewandowski scored his 41st Bundesliga goal of the season, breaking Gerd Mueller’s record. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / POOL / AFP)
Bayern Munich’s German midfielder Serge Gnabry (C) celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with Bayern Munich’s Austrian defender David Alaba (L) and Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski during the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayern Munich vs FC Augsburg in Munich, southern Germany, on May 22, 2021. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / POOL / AFP)
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski shoots but fails to score during the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayern Munich vs FC Augsburg in Munich, southern Germany, on May 22, 2021. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / POOL / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski scores the opening goal from the penalty spot, his 40th goal of the season during the German first division Bundesliga football match between SC Freiburg and FC Bayern Munich in Freiburg, southwestern Germany on May 15, 2021. (Photo by Thomas KIENZLE / POOL / AFP) / DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO
Robert Lewandowski equalled Gerd Mueller’s 49-year-old scoring record as the Bayern Munich striker netted his 40th Bundesliga goal of the season at Freiburg on Saturday.
Lewandowski, FIFA’s best male player of 2020, has equalled Mueller’s record, scored over 34 games in 1971/72, in just 28 league games this season due to last month’s knee injury and squad rotation.
Lewandowski converted a penalty after 26 minutes to equal the league’s record.
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot with his teammates, his 40th goal of the season during the German first division Bundesliga football match between SC Freiburg and FC Bayern Munich in Freiburg, southwestern Germany on May 15, 2021. (Photo by Thomas KIENZLE / POOL / AFP)
The game was briefly halted after Lewandowski equalled Mueller’s milestone as his Bayern team-mates made a guard-of-honour on the side of the pitch which the smiling 32-year-old ran through.
Lewandowski can still break Mueller’s record as Bayern, who were last weekend crowned Bundesliga champions for the ninth straight season, have one match left, at home to Augsburg next Saturday.
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (R) celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot with his teammate Bayern Munich’s German midfielder Serge Gnabry, his 40th goal of the season during the German first division Bundesliga football match between SC Freiburg and FC Bayern Munich in Freiburg, southwestern Germany on May 15, 2021. (Photo by Thomas KIENZLE / POOL / AFP)
The Poland striker is set to be crowned the Bundesliga’s top-scorer for the sixth time in eight seasons.
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (L) controls the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between SC Freiburg and FC Bayern Munich in Freiburg, southwestern Germany on May 15, 2021. (Photo by Thomas KIENZLE / POOL / AFP)
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (C) celebrates scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot with his teammates, his 40th goal of the season during the German first division Bundesliga football match between SC Freiburg and FC Bayern Munich in Freiburg, southwestern Germany on May 15, 2021. (Photo by Thomas KIENZLE / POOL / AFP)
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski scores during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Bayern Munich and Vfl Wolfsburg on December 16, 2020 in Munich. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / POOL / AFP)
There are question marks over Robert Lewandowski’s fitness as newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich head to Freiburg on Saturday, when he could equal or beat Gerd Mueller’s 49-year-old record of 40 goals in a Bundesliga season.
Lewandowski only trained for 40 minutes on Thursday.
Bayern insisted he trained “a little shorter than the rest of the team” to keep him fresh after missing three weeks last month with injury.
Lewandowski netted a hat-trick last Saturday, leaving him on 39 league goals this season, in a 6-0 thrashing of Borussia Moenchengladbach, which confirmed a ninth straight Bundesliga title for Bayern.
The Poland international has two matches to break Mueller’s record, set over 34 games in 1971/72. Bayern also host Augsburg on the final day of the season on May 22.
“It doesn’t help if you want it too much, you have to stay calm and play for the team,” said the 32-year-old Lewandowski.
“I have to be grateful that I get so many assists from my team-mates.”
Lewandowski’s tally is all the more remarkable as injury and squad rotation have seen him play only 27 of Bayern’s 32 games so far.
“You can see that he is in terrific form. He has two more opportunities and he wants it badly. He will give it his all,” said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is “astounded” by Lewandowski’s performances, having believed Mueller’s record would last for “eternity”.
– Three-way fight for two Champions League places – In the Bundesliga table behind Bayern and second-placed RB Leipzig, Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt are all battling for the two remaining Champions League places.
Dortmund, who are fourth but just a point ahead of Frankfurt, have a tricky match on Sunday evening at Mainz, who shocked Bayern at the start of May.
There is speculation star striker Erling Braut Haaland could leave if Dortmund fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The pressure on Dortmund could be ramped up if Frankfurt beat relegated Schalke on Saturday to climb back into the top four.
Leipzig can secure second by avoiding defeat at home against third-placed VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday.
At the other end of the table, second-from-bottom Cologne face a crucial game at fellow strugglers Hertha Berlin, who are only three points above the relegation play-off place.
One to watch: Leroy SaneBy his own admission, the Germany winger has struggled to settle at Bayern this season after his high-profile move from Manchester City, having spent most of 2019/20 sidelined with a knee injury.
The 25-year-old scored in the rout of Gladbach and is hungry for more trophies after being part of last Saturday’s Bundesliga title party.
“It’s always special to win a league title. It’s not easy. When you win it once you get a taste for it and it makes you hungry for more,” said Sane, who also won two Premier League titles with City.
Sane wants to finish the season strongly to secure a place in Joachim Loew’s Germany squad for Euro 2020, which will be announced on Wednesday.
Key stats92: Bundesliga goals Bayern Munich have scored this season. Lewandowski has netted 39 of them.
5: Number of Bundesliga hat-tricks Lewandowski has scored this season, one fewer than Gerd Mueller in 1971/72.
90: Goals Lewandowski trails Mueller by in the all-time Bundesliga goalscoring chart. The Pole has scored 275 times in the division, with Mueller netting a remarkable 365.
Fixtures (all times 1330 GMT unless stated)
Saturday
Borussia Moenchengladbach v VfB Stuttgart, Bayer Leverkusen v Union Berlin, Freiburg v Bayern Munich, Hertha Berlin v Cologne, Schalke 04 v Eintracht Frankfurt, Augsburg v Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld v Hoffenheim
Sunday
Mainz v Borussia Dortmund (1600), RB Leipzig v VfL Wolfsburg (1830)
File photo: Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, southern Germany, on March 20, 2021. (Photo by ANDREAS GEBERT / POOL / AFP)
Bayern Munich already have their eyes on a decade of Bundesliga dominance after winning the league title for the ninth successive season on Saturday, celebrating their success with a 6-0 thrashing of Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick to leave him on 39 league goals this season — one short of Gerd Mueller’s all-time Bundesliga record — as the champions swept Gladbach aside at the Allianz Arena.
“We wanted to show on the pitch that we are German champions,” said Lewandowski, who will “keep stepping on the gas” in chasing Mueller’s record.
“Today was a great game, we played really well and scored a lot of goals.”
The emphatic victory leaves Bayern 10 points clear of second-placed RB Leipzig, whose 3-2 loss at Borussia Dortmund sealed Bayern the title, with two games left.
The players learned they were champions again while still warming up following Dortmund’s victory.
“It was a bizarre situation. We were just getting ready, when we realised that we were champions,” said Bayern captain Manuel Neuer.
Board member Oliver Kahn has alread challenged Bayern to secure a 10th title in a row.
“We watched the Leipzig game together, the atmosphere was great,” said Kahn. “You don’t get used to it, it’s an incredible achievement.
“Now we can do something next season that no team in the world has ever done: become champions 10 times in a row.”
The only blot on a near-perfect night for Bayern was a red card for Tanguy Nianzou for a clumsy tackle 15 minutes from time.
Bayern wasted no time in hitting their stride, Lewandowski finding the bottom corner of the net with just under two minutes gone.
Kingsley Coman struck the post before Jamal Musiala’s pass picked out Thomas Mueller to slot in his 11th league goal of the season, then Lewandowski volleyed home his second on 34 minutes.
Kingsley Coman made it 4-0 before the break, then won a penalty which Lewandowski converted in the 66th minute to leave him one goal short of Gerd Mueller’s historic mark, before Leroy Sane added a late sixth.
Julian Nagelsmann, the 33-year-old coach who will leave Leipzig to replace Flick at Bayern next season, offered a terse “congratulations on a deserved title” to his future employers.
– Sancho double –
Earlier, England winger Jadon Sancho netted twice as Dortmund’s win lifted them into the Champions League places, but Eintracht Frankfurt can retake fourth spot if they beat Mainz on Sunday.
Even without injured striker Erling Braut Haaland, Dortmund were 2-0 up early in the second half thanks to goals from Marco Reus and Sancho.
Leipzig fought back through a Lukas Klostermann header and Dani Olmo’s equaliser, only for Sancho to grab the winner.
The two clubs meet again on Thursday in the German Cup final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
“We showed a lot of morale, the game had absolutely nothing to do with the final in Berlin, but of course we want to win on Thursday too,” said Reus.
Dortmund hope to have Haaland back from a thigh problem before the final, and even with their top-scorer watching from the stands, the hosts still raced into the lead after less than seven minutes.
Reus span out of Lukasz Piszczek’s pass, sprinted behind the defence and took a beautiful back-heeled ball from Thorgan Hazard before sweeping his shot past Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz did not come out for the second half after being injured colliding with his centre-back Manuel Akanji just before the break and was replaced by Roman Buerki.
Dortmund doubled their lead just six minutes after the interval with a superb piece of skill from Sancho, who cut inside after a Raphael Guerreiro pass and fired in off the far post.
The visitors pulled a goal back on 63 minutes when Emil Forsberg floated in a corner and Klostermann steered his header past Buerki.
Leipzig drew level when South Korea striker Hwang Hee-chan broke clear of Dortmund defender Mats Hummels and squared for Olmo who tapped home from close range.
However, Sancho snatched all three points when he flicked the ball to Guerreiro, took a return pass and slotted in to hand Bayern the title.
Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring the 3-0 during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Bayern Munich v Borussia Moenchengladbach in Munich, southern Germany on May 8, 2021. MATTHIAS SCHRADER / POOL / AFP
Bayern Munich already have their eyes on a decade of Bundesliga dominance after winning the league for the ninth successive season Saturday, thanks to Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 win over second-placed RB Leipzig.
England winger Jadon Sancho netted twice in Dortmund’s home victory which crowned Bayern as champions without kicking a ball before hosting Borussia Moenchengladbach later on Saturday.
“Of course, everyone was a bit excited, but we are absolutely focused on this game (against Moenchengladbach), 100 per cent,” Bayern coach Hansi Flick told Sky.
“We want to deliver, that’s the mentality of this side.
“It was a pleasure to work with this team,” added Flick, who will leave at the end of the season having won seven titles in 18 months.
Before kick off, Bayern have an unassailable 71 points to Leipzig’s 64.
The Bavarians had yet to lift the Bundesliga trophy before board member Oliver Kahn challenged them to a tenth title in a row.
“We watched the Leipzig game together, the atmosphere was great,” said Kahn.
“You don’t get used to it, it’s an incredible achievement.
“Now we can do something next season that no team in the world has ever done: become champions ten times in a row.”
Dortmund coach Edin Terzic congratulated Bayern on being crowned champions before even kicking a ball on Saturday.
“I don’t think anyone has ever become champions before while in the team bus on the way to the stadium!” he quipped.
Julian Nagelsmann, the 33-year-old coach who will leave RB Leipzig to replace Flick at Bayern next season, offered a terse “congratulations on a deserved title” to his future employers.
The victory lifted Dortmund into the Champions League places, but Eintracht Frankfurt can knock them out of fourth place if they beat Mainz on Sunday.
Even without star striker Erling Braut Haaland, Dortmund were 2-0 up at the start of the second half thanks to goals from Marco Reus and Sancho.
Leipzig fought back with a Lukas Klostermann header before Dani Olmo equalised only for Sancho to grab the winner with superb footwork.
The clubs meet again on Thursday in the German Cup final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
“We showed a lot of morale, the game had absolutely nothing to do with the final in Berlin, but of course we want to win on Thursday too,” said goal-scorer Reus.
Dortmund hope to have Haaland back from a thigh injury before the cup final and even with their top-scorer watching in the stands, the hosts still raced into the lead after only seven minutes.
Reus span out of Lukasz Piszczek’s pass, sprinted behind the defence and took a beautiful back-heeled ball from Thorgan Hazard before sweeping his shot past Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
Dortmund goalkeeper Marwin Hitz did not come out for the second half after being injured colliding with his centre-back Manuel Akanji just before the break and was replaced by Roman Buerki.
Dortmund doubled their lead just six minutes after the break with a superb piece of skill from Sancho, who cut back inside after a Raphael Guerreiro pass and fired his shot in off the far post with superb accuracy.
The visitors pulled a goal back on 63 minutes when Emil Forsberg floated in a corner and Lukas Klostermann steered his header past Buerki.
Leipzig drew level when South Korea striker Hwang Hee-chan broke clear of Dortmund defender Mats Hummels and squared for Olmo who tapped home from close range.
However, Sancho grabbed the winner when he flicked the ball to Guerreiro, took a return pass and tapped home to hand Bayern the title.
FILES) This file photo taken on April 10, 2021 shows Leipzig’s German headcoach Julian Nagelsmann prior to the German first division Bundesliga football match between SV Werder Bremen and RB Leipzig, in Bremen, northwestern Germany. Cathrin Mueller / POOL / AFP
Julian Nagelsmann will take over as Bayern Munich coach from next season to replace Hansi Flick, the reigning German and European champions announced on Tuesday.
Nagelsmann, 33, will move from RB Leipzig on a five-year contract after Flick, whose relationship with the club’s powerful sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has deteriorated, asked to be released from his contract.
“FC Bayern agreed to current head coach Hansi Flick’s request to have his contract terminated on 30 June 2021, two years earlier than its original expiry date,” the club said in a statement.
Nagelsmann has never hidden his desire to coach Bayern, especially as he comes from the Bavaria region.
Last season, he led Leipzig to the semi-finals of the Champions League and this season his side has replaced Borussia Dortmund as Bayern’s main title challengers.
Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund said Monday that they and German rivals Bayern Munich both rejected proposals to form a European Super League.
In a statement on Monday, Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke said that the members of the European Club Association (ECA) had met Sunday evening and expressed “a clear opinion to reject the foundation of a Super League”.
He added that the two German clubs on the ECA board, Bayern and Dortmund, had taken “100 percent” the same position “in all discussions”.
The announcement appears to confirm that neither of Germany’s two biggest clubs will join the breakaway league, whose announcement on Sunday threw European football into turmoil.
Overnight, 12 of Europe’s most powerful clubs announced the launch of the so-called European Super League to oversee a new midweek competition.
Six of the breakaway clubs are from the English Premier League. Three are Spanish and three Italian. Three more are to be announced.
File photo: Bayern Munich’s headcoach Hansi Flick arrives for the German first division Bundesliga football match Bayern Munich v Werder Bremen in Munich on December 14, 2019. Christof STACHE / AFP
Bayern Munich’s management on Sunday voiced disapproval at coach Hansi Flick for disclosing that he is seeking to quit his contract by the end of the season — well before it expires in 2023.
The club’s board said Flick informed it of his plans on Saturday but both sides had agreed to focus on this week’s games, against Leverkusen on Tuesday and then at Mainz on April 24, “so as not to disrupt the full concentration of the entire club”.
“FC Bayern disapproves of the one-sided communication by Hansi Flick that has now taken place and will continue the talks as agreed after the match in Mainz,” the club added in a terse statement.
Flick, who has led Bayern to six trophies over the last 12 months, made the shock revelation on Saturday after the club’s 3-2 win over Wolfsburg put them seven points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
The 56-year-old, who steered Bayern to last season’s treble which included the Champions League title, told the squad before making the news public.
“I told the team that I informed the club during the week that I want out of my contract at the end of the season,” Flick said, adding that his future plans were unclear.
File photo: Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart in Munich, southern Germany, on March 20, 2021. (Photo by ANDREAS GEBERT / POOL / AFP) /
But with Joachim Loew stepping down as coach of Germany after the Euro 2020 finals this summer, Flick is emerging as an obvious choice to replace him.
Flick was Loew’s assistant coach when Germany won the 2014 World Cup title in Brazil.
The chance to succeed Loew and take charge of the national team is an “option that anyone would have to consider”, Flick later told broadcaster ARD.
However, he insisted his decision to quit Bayern was “independent of the German FA. I’ve simply decided that for myself.”
(From L) Paris Saint-Germain’s French defender Presnel Kimpembe, Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentinian midfielder Leandro Paredes, Paris Saint-Germain’s Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gueye and Paris Saint-Germain’s German midfielder Julian Draxler celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on April 13, 2021. FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Paris Saint-Germain knocked holders Bayern Munich out of the Champions League on Tuesday despite Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scoring against his old club as a 1-0 defeat in the second leg at the Parc des Princes could not prevent the French giants from winning a tremendous quarter-final tie on away goals.
Neymar twice hit the woodwork for PSG in the first half and Choupo-Moting then put Bayern in front five minutes before the break.
But the reigning European champions could not get the second goal they needed after losing 3-2 at home in the first leg last week.
Hansi Flick’s team are out, and PSG have revenge following their 1-0 defeat in last season’s final in Lisbon.
The dream of winning a first European Cup remains alive for the Qatar-owned club and Mauricio Pochettino’s team, who had already eliminated Barcelona in the last 16, can now look forward to a semi-final showdown with Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern will have to console themselves with trying to win a ninth consecutive Bundesliga title, and will wonder what might have been had the prolific Robert Lewandowski, or Serge Gnabry, been available for the two legs of this tie.
The future of Flick will come back into focus, too, given his frosty relationship with the club’s sporting director, Hasan Salihamidzic.
Yet Bayern more than played their part in an epic tie that will live long in the memory and that deserved to be played before a full house both in Munich and here.
Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe (R) drives the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FC Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on April 13, 2021. FRANCK FIFE / AFP
They were also without influential midfielder Leon Goretzka for this second leg, and they had next to no Champions League experience on their bench either.
Their starting line-up was still impressive, and with Thomas Mueller leading from the front and co-ordinating their suffocating press, Bayern took the game to their hosts throughout.
That suited PSG, who have produced their best performances this season away from home and could look to hit the Germans on the break with the devastating pace of Kylian Mbappe.
The Parisians, to be fair, were without two huge players of their own in captain Marquinhos and playmaker Marco Verratti, but they did have Mbappe and Neymar.
Neymar’s frustrating night
The Brazilian was in the mood but was left frustrated by a combination of Manuel Neuer and the frame of the goal in the first half.
Twice the Bayern goalkeeper produced saves to deny Neymar before the world’s most expensive player hit a superb shot off the angle of bar and far post in the 37th minute after Angel Di Maria’s free-kick was cleared to him.
On 39 minutes another breakaway finished with Mbappe squaring to Neymar, who this time saw his effort strike the base of the right-hand post.
Bayern could have been dead and buried, but within a minute of that they were in front on the night.
Thomas Mueller’s cushioned lay-off in the box set up David Alaba for a first-time shot that Keylor Navas saved. The ball looped up to Choupo-Moting and he headed in.
The Cameroon forward, who scored once in 10 Champions League appearances across two seasons at PSG, now had his second goal against his old club in this tie while standing in for Lewandowski.
Bayern could even have scored again before the break as a thunderous strike by Alaba was turned behind by Navas, keeping PSG ahead overall on away goals.
A goal for the home side would have calmed the nerves as they looked to avoid another dramatic exit from the Champions League like so many before over the last decade.
Neymar stretched but just could not connect with Di Maria’s ball across goal at the start of the second half.
PSG lost left-back Abdou Diallo to injury and Bayern continued to push them back, accepting the risk of conceding as they went looking for a crucial second goal.
Mbappe had an effort disallowed for offside, while another Bayern goal never arrived, and the final whistle was met with loud roars of delight from the home bench.
