FC Bayern Munich – President Hainer: Early exit will “spur” players

Bayern Munich President Herbert Hainer expects a defiant reaction from the team after the bitter end in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against outsiders FC Villarreal. “I am convinced that even our ambitious players will not let such an end sit down. That will spur them on for the coming Champions League season. They want more, want to make history here,” said Hainer of the picture.

If Bayern, who are top of the table in the Bundesliga five games before the end of the season, win their tenth championship in a row, it would be “a historic achievement in one of the top five leagues,” said the 67-year-old: “We can do that be very proud – and next season we will attack with all our might again in the Champions League.”

The German soccer record champion failed surprisingly on Tuesday due to the underdog from Spain. After the 0-1 draw in the first leg, Bayern only managed to draw 1-1 despite being superior. Everyone is disappointed, stressed Hainer: “With all due respect to Villarreal, that’s certainly not our claim.”

Hainer expressed his confidence in Hasan Salihamidzic (Sports Director) and Oliver Kahn (CEO), who have been criticized: “Both are aware of their responsibility and live up to it. They know how this club ticks, what is important here, that is their DNA. When I looked at their faces after the Villarreal game, I saw there: Now more than ever.”

In an international comparison, the “financial strength of the investor and oligarch clubs” poses a challenge for Bavaria. This has to be faced.

Hainer does not want to comment on negotiations with striker Robert Lewandowski, whose contract in Munich runs until 2023 and about whom there have always been rumors of his departure. You don’t have to give any water level reports, he said: “We emphasize again and again that we appreciate Robert very much: he is a world footballer twice and guarantees us goals, goals, goals. Our sporting leadership is in exchange with him.”