Special praise from the club boss: Serge Gnabry scored the equalizer.
Photo: imago/Dennis Ewert
Sometimes the job of club boss at FC Bayern Munich is a very pleasant one. And that doesn’t always depend on the result of a game, although after a performance like the one on Tuesday evening at Arsenal London, Jan-Christian Dreesen might find it more enjoyable to do what is one of his tasks on away trips in the Champions League: he always has a few words to say about the team’s performance at the traditional banquet after the game – and then opens the buffet. The banker, who has only been in office for almost a year, can be forgiven for Dreesen forgetting this and having to point it out discreetly.
Things were going well for Dreesen in London, he thought about the buffet. But even more important: after the 2-2 draw in the quarter-final first leg, the chairman was able to praise the team with a clear conscience: “You can be proud of yourself.” He singled out individual players such as the two Munich goalscorers Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry and even exaggerated them in the end a bit when he spoke of a “fantastic game”. Well, compared to previous appearances in the Bundesliga, this assessment was almost an understatement – that was how big the difference was between Saturday and Tuesday, between Heidenheim and London.
But FC Bayern’s claim is games and performances like those against Arsenal, where commitment, fighting spirit and concentration were all right when the game was turned around after an early deficit. The fact that the Munich team gave up the victory in the end did not diminish their performance. Especially since they were cheated out of a penalty in the 67th minute. But Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg briefly overrode the regulations when Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya played a goal kick to Gabriel, who picked up the ball in his hand and then passed it back to Raya – apparently the Brazilian had ignored the referee’s whistle. Nyberg dismissed Bayern’s complaints and, according to coach Thomas Tuchel, described it to the players as “kids mistake”. He wouldn’t punish something like that in a Champions League quarter-final.
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It’s fitting for Bayern’s season that they are facing the Premier League leaders on equal terms, but have previously let themselves be outplayed by a Bundesliga newcomer in the Swabian Alb. Sports director Max Eberl spoke of “waves throughout the season” that cost the team the championship title and meant they were eliminated from the DFB Cup. These fluctuations, he said, with a view to Saturday’s game against 1. FC Köln and securing a Champions League place in the six remaining Bundesliga games, “should no longer happen to us at the end of the season.”
Only in the premier class did Bayern always perform flawlessly, with one exception in the round of 16 against Lazio Rome. Greater international experience may also have played a role in the duel with Arsenal. “In a game like this,” said London striker Kai Havertz, “the smallest details matter.” The semi-final, which was almost seen as illusory after the two most recent Bundesliga defeats, is now within reach for the Munich team, who will have to do without the suspended Alphonso Davies and probably Gnabry, who was injured again, in the second leg.
Bayern were last in the round of the last four in the premier class in 2020; Seen this way, it would be at least a small success in this messed up season. During his speech, Dreesen pointed out the special feature of the hotel where Bayern stayed and ended the evening after the game. The Munich team also booked “The Landmark” near Regent’s Park for the 2013 Champions League final triumph. “It should inspire you to revive this spirit” in order to “show with heart and passion who FC Bayern are” in the second leg next Wednesday. Or who FC Bayern once was, back when it reliably offered its best performances in the Bundesliga when it mattered most.
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