Kovac upstages new employers
BIG SHOCK: BAYERN CRASH TO EINTRACHT IN CUP FINAL
Bundesliga champs accused of being bad losers by storming off.
Berlin
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.
Croatian 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 runners-up medals at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
They broke protocol by not waiting to see Frankfurt lift the trophy and Heynckes was forced to deny the “bad losers” accusations.
“That was really a misunderstanding,” insisted Heynckes.
“I would have expected that a person in charge of the German FA would have told us to wait until the trophy was presented.
“At that moment, I did not even think about it, otherwise I would have asked my team to stay.”
Only a few Bayern players lingered for the trophy presentation alongside Bayern’s sports director Hasan Salihamidzic.
Nevertheless, the night belonged to Kovac and Frankfurt.
In a dramatic finish, Rebic sealed the win by scoring his second goal on 82 minutes after floating his shot over Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich.
The goal stood despite an intervention by the video assistant referee.
Both coaches later said Bayern should have been awarded a late penalty when Javi Martinez was fouled in the dying minutes.
“It was a penalty, but we shouldn’t start criticising,” added Heynckes, while Kovac admitted: “I have to say – it was a penalty”. However, Gacinovic got the party started for the Frankfurt fans by sprinting the length of the field to tap into an open goal from a Bayern corner for the third goal just before the whistle.
“I’m proud, my boys gave their all – and I mean all. Now Eintracht can celebrate their first trophy for 30 years,” beamed Kovac after Frankfurt’s first cup final win since 1988. –