FC Bayern just barely miss a disaster in the playoff second leg. In conversation with T-Online, sports director Christoph Freund asks the pressing questions that this raises this.
Christoph Freund was in a hurry. With big steps he almost stormed past the cameras and the reporters in the front area of the mixed zone. Shortly before the outcome of the FC Bayern sports director in the Allianz Arena stopped again for T-Online. There he asked himself the questions that had raised the happy 1-1 on Tuesday evening in the playoff second leg against Celtic Glasgow and the next puzzlingly harmless appearance of Bayern.
Because the Munich team won the first leg 2-1 in Scotland a week ago, they still moved into the round of 16 of the Champions League. This gave them alive at least the dream of the final in their own stadium on May 31. That evening, which the substitute Alphonso Davies had just saved with his equalizer in added time for Bayern, but also pretty much the only positive. Friend saw it the same way in an exclusive conversation with T-Online.
T-online: Mr. Freund, what is your analysis after the 1-1 against Glasgow?
Christoph Freund: It was important that we progressed. Of course we can play football games better. It was not an easy game, at the end of the day a little happy with the goal in the last minute, but of course very, very important.
It was the most important game of the season so far, in which a lot was at stake. Are you a bit disappointed or at least surprised how weak the team appeared?
We will classify and analyze this. In the end, we have now made it to the round of 16. That is important now.
Where do you see the causes of the problems that the team has at the moment obviously? There is little to see from the dominant game approach that Bavarians actually want to follow.
The second half today was better. But yes, there are some things to work up, in the first half it was more difficult. But we will do better again.
The fact that Bavaria gives up its game dominance is certainly not intentional, or is it?
No, no – that is certainly not an intention. We actually want to continue to appear dominant.
Then why does it suddenly no longer work to bring this dominance, pressing and the ball possession football, the head coach Vincent Kompany actually play?
There were now two games that were a little different. The second half today was a little better again. We are working on it.
The defensive also showed great weaknesses in the second leg against Celtic and partially wobbled – especially when the goal scoring 0: 1. How do you explain these mistakes?
The defensive was always very stable now. Today the whole team was not the maximum that we know from her. But we are further. That is what counts.
Finally, a quick look at the end of the round of 16 of the Champions League on Friday, in which either Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid will become the opponent. Against Leverkusen you would have the chance to hit her again after three competitive games, in which Bavaria was not successful this season.
If so, it is so. Both are two really strong opponents who are on the road internationally. Let’s see what the draw on Friday brings.