In the end, Basler was in the starting line-up. And of all people, he shot Bayern into the lead with a free kick after just six minutes. The dream of the title suddenly became reality and lasted for a long time. Until the last third of the game – and a substitution that probably had momentous consequences.
Leader Lothar Matthäus was substituted for Thorsten Fink after 81 minutes. “Because the game was fast-paced and we played a lot forward, I felt very tired after 75 minutes,” says Matthäus in the documentary. The team was confused. “It was a change that really threw us into disarray,” remembers Mehmet Scholl. Effenberg also says: “If you have to make substitutions shortly before the end when you are leading, that is never good for the structure within the team.”
Another Bayern player is also very clear almost 26 years later: Thomas Helmer didn’t understand the substitution at all: “Because Manchester had four strikers on the field.” He still asks himself today why coach Ottmar Hitzfeld didn’t rely on him instead of Thorsten Fink: “I still blame him for that to this day.”
Bayern had led 1-0 in the grand final until the 90th minute, but in stoppage time Manchester United turned the game around with two goals from Teddy Sheringham (90th minute +1) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (90th +3). celebrated winning the title with a 2-1 score. The Munich dream was shattered within three minutes.
Helmer also believes he knows the reason why Hitzfeld didn’t use him back then. The first group game against Brondby Copenhagen (1:2) was to blame: “I scored an own goal in Brondby.” Hitzfeld was of the opinion that he was also responsible for the second goal conceded. “Since then I haven’t played a single minute in the Champions League,” said Helmer.
The lost final at Camp Nou (Barcelona) against Manchester United also meant the end of the team. Helmer, Basler, Babbel and Matthäus – they all left FC Bayern after the final defeat. Effenberg and Hitzfeld, on the other hand, stayed – and just two years later celebrated the long-awaited Champions League title win with a win in the final against FC Valencia (5:4 iE).
Broadcast note: The documentary “FC Hollywood – FC Bayern and the crazy 90s” will be available from Friday (10 a.m.) in the ZDF media library. The five episodes will also be shown on free-to-air television on January 17th and 18th.