Bayern not ‘bad losers’ after shock final loss

JUPP Heynckes was forced to deny Bayern Munich are bad losers after their shock 3-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Cup final ruined his final game as manager.

Croatia striker Ante Rebic scored either side of a Robert Lewandowski equaliser before substitute Mijat Gacinovic tapped into an empty net just before the final whistle to delight Frankfurt fans and break Bayern’s hearts.

Eintracht coach Niko Kovac claimed his first trophy as a coach in his last match at the club. He is leaving the Frankfurt side to succeed Heynckes at Bayern next season.

However, several Bayern stars left a bad impression by storming off the playing area after receiving their runnersup medals at the Olympiasta- dion in Berlin. They broke protocol by not waiting aiting to see Frankfurt lift the trophy and Heynckes was forced rced to deny the “bad losers” accusations.

“That was really a misunderstanding,” insisted Hey- n c k e s ( p i c t u r e d , AFP). “I would have expected that a person in charge of FC Bayern or the Gererman FA would have ave told us to wait until il the trophy was presented. ented. At that moment, I did d not even think about it, otherwise therwise I would have asked d my team to stay.”

Only a few Bayern ern players stayed for the trophy phy presentation alongside club sports director Hasan Salihamidzic. lihamidzic. Nevertheless, the night belonged to Kovac and Frankfurt. In a dramatic finish, Rebic sealed t h e win by scoring his second goal on 82 m i n u t e s after floating his shot over Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich. The goal stood despite an intervention by the video assistant referee.

Both Kovac and Heynckes later said Bayern s houl d hav have e be e n awarded a late penalty w when Javi Martinez was fouled i in the dying minutes.

“It was a penalty, but we s shouldn’t start criticising,” a added Heynckes, while Kovac admitted: “I have to say – it was a penalty”.

‘Tears ‘T of relief’

However, Gacinovic got the p party started for the Frankfurt f fans by sprinting the length of t the field to tap into an open g goal from a Bayern corner for t the third goal just before the w whistle.

“I’m proud, my boys gave t their all – and I mean all. Now Eintracht E can celebrate their first f trophy for 30 years,” beamed b Kovac after Frankfurt’s first f cup final win since 1988.

The former Bayern midfielder e shed tears of joy as he signed off o with silverware after two years at Eintracht, who lost last year’s cup final to Dortmund.

“Anyone who knows me knows that I am an emotional person and I let the tears flow. They were tears of relief after two years fighting to be successful again,” he said. “We have continually improved from near-relegation to cup final to cup final winners.”

This was supposed to be Heynckes’s farewell party.

Bayern wanted to send their 73-year-old head coach into retirement with the German cup and league double, having already wrapped up a sixth straight Bundesliga title.

But Heynckes was l e f t lamenting Bayern’s wasted chances as both Lewandowski and centre-back Mats Hummels hit the woodwork i n either half.