Munich (dpa) – Hansi Flick hearted Bavaria’s modern “bomber” Robert Lewandowski, but he pushed the big Easter duel with RB Leipzig far away.
After the mighty 4-0 (4-0) of Bundesliga Primus FC Bayern against the outnumbered VfB Stuttgart, Flick asked after stressful weeks with national coach speculations and the first escalated and then contained conflict with sports director Hasan Salihamidzic to simply “die Joy ”to enjoy the 40th victory in his 50th Bundesliga game as a coach.
“You have to admit that to me,” said Flick. He is very happy to be able to “take a deep breath” during the international break without being asked annoying questions about his future as a coach and his relationship with Salihamidzic. “Everything has been said about that,” he said firmly.
At Easter it’s going to be full, first at RB Leipzig and then in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain in the new edition of the most recent final. “We want to make things clear as soon as possible,” said Flick first about the next championship title. A victory at the only title competitor RB Leipzig would be decisive. Bayern travel to Saxony with a four point lead.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge from the Munich leadership circle continues to strive for clarity in the matter of Flick. The Bayern boss confirmed that Flick, who acted as the successor to national coach Joachim Löw, will work for the record champions beyond the summer. “That is a fact,” said Rummenigge of “Welt am Sonntag”. “We are well advised to finish what we have contractually agreed. I communicated that to Hansi in no uncertain terms. “
Flick’s contract runs until 2023. Löw had touted his former assistant as the ideal successor on the show “Today in the Stadium” at Bayern 1: “I think we all agree that Hansi has excellent qualifications.” Jogi’s warm words when asked, Flick said: “Yes, I’m very happy.” But he also said: “Nothing has changed about the whole thing.”
Tip: To be continued – as in the case of Flick / Salihamidzic. In any case, the coach isn’t finished in Munich. It runs despite background noise. “I think the mood at the game and after the game will carry us over the next few weeks,” said national player Serge Gnabry after the record champion’s 1900th Bundesliga game.
The super form of the triple year seems to be returning. “As if it were lubricated,” said Gnabry, after Alphonso Davies’ early dismissal, when Bayern were threatened with disaster. The disadvantage turned into the opposite. “The red card woke us up. We have shown that you can play really good football with one man less, ”said Lewandowski. The confused VfB went down helplessly.
Flick made a “huge compliment” to his team, which also put up with the failure of the sick Joshua Kimmich. Thomas Müller shone as an emergency six after Davies’ dismissal. The loudspeaker drove the teammates forward, shone in the combination vortex with Leroy Sané and served Lewandowski again and again with his offensive colleagues, who, as a triple goalscorer, took home the match ball as a trophy.
In a furious six-minute intermediate sprint, Lewandowski and Gnabry ensured a 3-0 lead. Müller was the trigger. “Thomas almost made up for Bavaria’s deficit with one man less,” said Stuttgart sports director Sven Mislintat appreciatively. “Sometimes he pushed the team forward too much for me,” said Flick to Müller, but also praised his front man: “It sets him apart.”
The coach praised his entire team from back to front. Not even Lewandowski liked to single out Flick. There are only five left for the world footballer, with eight remaining games. Gerd Müller’s 40-goal record, which has been inviolable for decades, is now very, very close for “Robert LewanGOALski”, as Müller calls the Munich “bomber” of the present.
Lewandowski knows about the historic opportunity. He is now at 35 goals. The 32-year-old has already surpassed his own record from the previous season (34 goals). The gap to 40 is shrinking – the record pressure is rising. “I don’t want to think about it too much. I want to stay in top form, “said the Pole:” It’s a big challenge to always be ready in your head and always hungry for the goals. “
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210321-99-908247 / 3
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