Deutsche Welle (English edition)
Bayern Munich out of Champions League with Hansi Flick’s future hanging in the balance
Bayern Munich have been knocked out of the Champions League by the team that they beat in last year's final. Defeat by PSG will only fuel speculation that Hansi Flick will leave Bayern to become the new Germany coach.
Paris Saint- Germain 0- 1 Bayern Munich, Parc des Princes
(Choupo-Moting 40') 3-3onaggregate,PSGthrough onawaygoals
The implications of this defeat run deeper than Bayern Munich’s de-throning in the Champions League.
Flick will feel its effects acutely, running out of road just as the tectonic plates are shifting at the club he guided to an extraordinary sextuplet of trophies last season. Victory in Paris would have papered over the cracks of a nettlesome feud between Flick and Bayern’s sporting director, Hasan Salihamidzic, which has spilled into the open in recent weeks.
"My re l a t i o n s h i p w i t h 'Brazzo' (Salihamidzic) is stable," Flick said after the game in Paris. "Nothing will change that. He has his job, I have mine. I will keep doing as I have done all season, which is why everything is stable."
Flick feels he’s earned the right to a greater say over transfers, with Salihamidzic threatened that such a move would limit his influence. And with Flick having already stated that the squad is weaker than last season – objectively true but also a thinly-veiled criticism of his colleague – the dynamic between two of the most important and opinionated figures at the club is under duress.
"I don't have an appointment with the Bayern board," Flick added. "If Oliver (Kahn) wants to talk to me then he can gladly do it. I don't know what he will want to talk about."
Germany calling
Defeat in Paris will do little to alleviate the tension at the top, particularly given that Flick has an immediate exit off the Autobahn. The soon-to-bevacant Germany job offers an enticing alternative for Flick, a man well-known to the DFB (German Football Association).
The next few days and weeks should reveal whether Flick’s future lays with Bayern, the club he has taken to the pinnacle of European football, or the national team – but with Flick not distancing himself from the role as Joachim Löw’s successor, it would appear Flick may already know this result in Paris seals his
fate.
"It's all about the development of the team, that is immensely important for me," Flick added during an impassioned four-minute post-game monologue in Paris. "I'm always thinking about that, because success is a constant process. With the six titles we won, we have set an incredible benchmark. Whether at the DFB or Bayern, the pressure is huge.
"Whether I'm at the DFB is irrelevant for my family. Whatever decision I make, they will support me. Having them behind me is a great feeling. I love the job and I can't imagine doing anything other than coaching."
Bayern fall short
On the field, the margins could barely have been finer in this gripping quarterfinal. Bayern traveled to Paris needing two goals without reply to keep the defense of their European crown on track. They got the first, but the second never came.
The callous efficiency in front of goal that punctuated PSG’s win in Munich a week ago was absent in the French capital. Neymar, a man who thrives in these high quality and intense contests, hit the bar and post within the space of three first half minutes - just before Bayern tilted this compelling clash back in their favor.
The goal came from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, the man with one of the most unenviable jobs in football: understudy to the best striker in the world. Robert Lewandowski’s absence was keenly felt by Bayern over the two games, but ChoupoMoting did his part with a goal in each leg. Unfortunately for Bayern, the attacking verve that usually accompanies their performances was also missing its supporting cast in Serge Gnabry and Leon Goretzka.
As it became increasingly clear that PSG wouldn’t score on the night, it simply became a case of whether Bayern would. With the game on a knife edge throughout, Leroy Sane produced one of his best performances in a Bayern shirt, but
even his slaloming runs, killer deliveries and eye for goal couldn’t tip the scales. PSG and Mauricio Pochettino had their revenge.
Bayern Munich were good, but not just good enough PSG vs. Bayern Munich - as it happened: What a night!
Thank you for joining us tonight. I hope tomorrow is as good as tonight. Germany's European hopes are all on Borussia Dortmund now.
Proud Pavard
Bayern might have felt hard done by the referee tonight, but Benjamin Pavard knows who he is cheering for from now on in Europe this season.
Flick's outpouring
Speaking of Flick, he has just done an interview with Sky in which his final answer last three to four minutes. It felt like an outpouring of the soul. Some might interpret it as a leaving speech, others an outpouring of the soul. Either way, kudos to Lothar Matthäus for helping make that possible by being respectful and open with Flick. On the game:
"I think in the first leg in Munich we scored too few. The third goal we conceded was one too many. 2-2 would have bene enough."
"I was hoping we might strike late. Leroy had that chance at the end and perhaps he should have gone alone rather than decided to cross the ball low."
A healthy dose of sarcasm when asked whether he had decided his future yet:
"Yes, I've just decided. We just went out in the quarterfinal..." And then the outpouring:
"My re l a t i o n s h i p w i t h 'Brazzo' (sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic) is stable. Nothing will change that. He has his job, I have mine. I will keep doing as I have done all season, which is why everything is stable.
I don't have an appointment. If Oliver (Kahn) wants to talk to me then he can gladly do it. I don't know what he will want to talk about.
"The last few weeks in terms of the media were not that easy. I never had anything new to say so I think you have to respect a coach when he says he doesn't want to talk about these things anymore. I have a contract with Bayern but you always have thoughts about how the future looks and if everything is working wonderfully here.
Whether I'm at the DFB is irrelevant for my family. Whatever decision I make, they will support me. Having them behind me is a great feeling. I love the job and I can't imagine doing anything other than coaching.
It's all about development the team. That is immensely important for me. I'm always thinking about that, success is a constant process. With the six titles we won, we have set an incredible benchmark. Whether at the DFB or Bayern, the pressure is huge."
What now Hansi?
Hansi Flick's Bayern Munich are out of both cup competitions now, although they look set to win a ninth straight Bundesliga title. One stat of note, they had 13 shots tonight compared to 31 in the first leg. Perhaps the game was lost there?
Manuel Neuer thinks so too. He tells Sky:
"The 1-0 result is deserved, but the result in Munich needed to be better. We wasted too many chances in the first game and perhaps conceded too many."
Meanwhile, in the PSG dressing room...
Best game ever?
Perhaps that is an exaggeration but this game, in fact this entire tie has been fantastic from start to finish. Two sides playing exciting, risky football that allowed for quality to be on show throughout. Bayern's run may be over, but if you're going to go out then no better way to do it.
FINAL! PSG beat Bayern Munich on away goals and will play Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semifinal
There was a moment when Leroy Sané might have won it for Bayern had he played a different ball in the box, but it was not to be. Bayern were very good tonight but just not good enough. Their Champions League defense comes to an end here in Paris tonight.
90' Neuer says no!
PSG break and surely the goal that ends it is here, but no Neuer slides out to clear the ball before PSG can get to it. End to end. Bayern desperate, so are PSG. Four minutes added time to come.
88' PSG sub
Di Maria walks off slowly. Ander Herrera replaces him. PSG
just want to clear it now, and perhaps score a goal on the break that isn't offside.
86' More late drama in Paris!
Bayern get the ball in the box, it's bouncing around but then it's passed back to Müller. Is this the moment? No! It's blocked and either someone was offside or there was a foul. Really tense now.
82' Sané close!
It's all getting nervy as we enter the finale. Sané fires wide from the left. A chance there, albeit a half chance. Bayern push again, win a corner but before it can be taken Javi Martinez comes on up front to replace ChoupoMoting. Flick is all in now!
77' Goal... BUT!
Mbappe breaks through behind the lines and finishes superbly, but is offside by the barest of margins. Wow. What a finish but what a moment in this tie. Bayern still alive.
71' Super subs?
Flick plays his joker, bringing Jamal Musiala on for Alphonso Davies. Alaba moves to left back. Musiala joins Kimmich in midfield, probably in a more attacking role. Psg bring on Moise Kean for Julian Draxler, who had a quiet night.
70' Bayern need a hero
It is tight. Bayern are pushing for the second goal they need but PSG are just about holding on. The tackles are getting a little tougher. It feels a lot like the final in Lisbon last season. Can Coman be the hero again? Every minute of this has been fantastic.
60' Injury
Diallo cannot continue and as in the first leg, Mitchel Bakker makes an appearance off the bench.
55' How has that not gone in?
PSG should have a goal. Di Maria's remarkably quick feet allow him to pull the ball across goal for an outstretched Neymar to convert into the empty net but it just misses his boot and Boateng clears coolly. Wow. Neymar has had some chances tonight.
50' Bayern bursting
Hansi Flick's side come out bursting for that second. Alaba fires wide from the edge of the box. Not five minutes played before Neymar has another