Jerome Boateng commented on his departure from FC Bayern and his new club Olympique Lyon. The 33-year-old also spoke about David Alaba, Hansi Flick and a possible DFB comeback.
“My time at FC Bayern was a very long and beautiful chapter for a footballer these days. But I have often emphasized that I want another change. What I said is that I could have imagined it again to extend when you get together. That wasn’t the case, so it was done quickly for me, “said Boateng at Sport1.
The central defender moved from Manchester City to Munich in 2011 and stayed for ten years. After 229 games for the record champions, his expiring contract was not extended in the summer.
Under Niko Kovac, Boateng was left out, when Hansi Flick took over in 2019, the 2014 world champion became important again. This is one of the reasons why the Berliner likes to think back to his time in Munich.
“The last two years with Hansi Flick were once again outstanding and we managed to win the Champions League again. I am happy that I got this chance and that we were so successful. Only football can write such a story”, so Boateng.
Boateng: “Hoeneß’s statements disappointed me”
His collaboration with Flick, who also left FCB in the summer and is now national coach, is a success story, says Boateng the follow-up injuries, which were mainly due to my big injury to my shoulder. Fighting my way out of such a hole was not so easy for me. Hansi gave me a fair chance. One that was about Performance works. That was all I asked Bayern for the whole time. “
In the meantime, Boateng had fallen out of favor with Bayern. The then President Uli Hoeneß had publicly advised him to change. “I think it would be better for him if he could enjoy different air. I think he has to look for a new challenge, that’s better for him. He seems like a foreign body,” Hoeneß had judged in May 2019. Before the EM 2021, Hoeneß also advised the then national coach Joachim Löw not to nominate Boateng for the EM.
“The statements disappointed me, especially since you were used to being strengthened from above as a Bayern player,” said Boateng: “I never passed out, on the contrary. I know that I am judged differently than other players “I have to live with that. That’s just the way it is. It is important for me that those who take a closer look judge me. But I can assure you that nothing will get stuck. I wish FC Bayern all the best. This club will always be in.” stay in my heart. “
Boateng on Alaba: “You don’t have to make such a fuss”
Boateng also commented on his former team-mate David Alaba, who kissed the royal coat of arms when he was presented to Real Madrid and was heavily criticized for it.
“Everyone knows what importance FC Bayern has for David. That he did that was determined by the situation or maybe a photographer asked him to. You don’t know. One hundred percent he had no bad intentions in mind. You don’t have to make a big fuss about it, “said the defender, who now plays for Lyon.
Boateng signed a two-year contract with the Ligue 1 club until 2023. “I’m excited,” said the nine-time German champions about his new role: “I wasn’t worried about finding a new club. Instead, I asked myself: For what Do I make up my mind? I always said to myself that I would wait until I got the right gut feeling. That was the case with Lyon. I liked the club, the project and the goals of coach Peter Bosz. “
Boateng toying with DFB return
He also sought contact with Flick before he accepted, Boateng revealed: “Yes, we spoke on the phone. I asked him for his opinion and advice. But I always do that because I’ve always had a good relationship with Hansi. He has played a big part in my career because he knows me and has accompanied me since I was young. “
That’s one of the reasons why he could imagine playing for the German national team again, explained Boateng: “I don’t want to say that I absolutely have to go back to the national team. At the end of the day it’s about performance that everyone has to bring about deserve to play for the national team. For me it is now important to get fit. Then I want to play a good season and as it is in football: If things go well, you might get your chance again. But that’s one Decision of the national coach. I have to present myself well at Lyon. Then we’ll see what happens. “
