2024-05-09 14:14:32
The Bayern season, which is now almost over, has provided stories for an entire series of books. With the tragic end of the lost game against Real Madrid.
How tragically can a football season end like this? FC Bayern has known the answer since Wednesday evening.
There has been unrest at the German record champions since the start of the season. Before the actual Bundesliga season started, Bayern lost the Supercup against Leipzig (0-3). A never-ending squad debate followed, which gave rise to the first signs of cracks between coach Thomas Tuchel and the club bosses. Above all, Tuchel’s desire for a “Holding Six” caused unrest.
The head coach wanted a “six” in the midfield who thought more defensively, which is something we don’t have in the squad. Desired candidate: João Palhinha from Fulham FC. In the end, despite completing a medical check, he didn’t come. Nevertheless, Tuchel had – intentionally or not – used the debate to scratch the ego of regular player Joshua Kimmich, who had seen himself as exactly that six-man.
This was followed by the cup exit against third division team Saarbrücken (1:2), a massive defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga (1:5) and a defeat against Werder Bremen (0:1) at the start of the second half of the season. Thomas Tuchel was counted and speculation about an early release began. In the spring it was announced that Tuchel had to leave at the end of the season.
Constant discussions about possible successors could not be prevented: Julian Nagelsmann, Xabi Alonso, Ralf Rangnick – they were the preferred candidates and all canceled one after the other. In addition, there was the final missed championship and statements from club patron Uli Hoeneß, who shot against Tuchel and thus provoked further unrest in the club (you can read more about this here).
It seems tragic that the season ends like this for Bayern. For a long time it really looked as if the dream of a German final in the premier class against Borussia Dortmund would come true.
Bayern’s first titleless season since 2012 now ends on a dreary note with Tuchel’s farewell game on May 18th in the Bundesliga against TSG Hoffenheim. What follows from this is a declaration of war by Bayern’s club bosses.
CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen explained that night: “Thomas Müller wrote in the team chat one day after the final at home (in 2012, Bayern lost against Chelsea FC 3-4 on penalties, editor’s note): ‘Cheer up, boys. What happened yesterday is extremely painful. But next year we’ll fight back.'” And that’s exactly what he wants to say to the Bayern professionals of the 2024 class: “Cheer up! We played fantastically, you can’t blame yourself. Our goal has to be to look forward from tomorrow.”
The big goal is the final at home
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,” announced Dreesen.