Josh: We felt Kim-vincible!
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JOSHUA KIMMICH says Bayern Munich went into their Champions League Final showdown with Paris St-germain feeling invincible.
Victory for the German giants in Lisbon on Sunday night means they have ended Real Madrid’s six-year reign as the No.1 club in the UEFA rankings.
Unsurprisingly, they have already been installed as favourites to win the trophy again next season.
But it was a very different story last November when head coach Niko Kovac was sacked after a 5-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Bayern were lagging in fourth place in the Bundesliga and assistant Hansi Flick was promoted to the top job.
Starting with the 3-1 home win over Spurs on December 11, Bayern went unbeaten in 30 games to complete only their second treble.
“Hansi Flick gave us lots of confidence at the
BAYERN MUNICH hotshot Robert Lewandowski could have been banging in the goals for Manchester United if Louis van Gaal had his way.
The Polish goal ace was on Van Gaal’s hit-list of stars during his spell at Old Trafford.
He also tried to sign Paris Stgermain superstar Neymar, who lost to Lewandowski’s Bayern in Sunday’s start,” said Kimmich (below), who provided the assist for Kingsley Coman’s crucial header.
“We had a bit of a feeling of invincibility. We have really deserved to win this competition.
“It is indescribable, a feeling like that, to be on the pitch with a group like that.”
Flick was initially given the Bayern job until the end of the season, but such was his impact he was handed a deal until 2023.
The ex-bayern midfielder, 55, said: “Back in November you could read in the press that no one should’ve been afraid of Bayern. “So I think we really have produced sensational progress.”
Match-winner Coman was yesterday compared to Thierry Henry by former England boss Fabio Capello after both players failed at Juventus before finding stardom.
He said: “Evidently, Juventus keep repeating the same mistakes.”
Champions League Final.
“I wanted Lewandowski but when this proved difficult I tried to get Gonzalo Higuain,” said Van Gaal.
“Before I arrived, I also spoke to the board about Neymar.
“Those were my top targets but we couldn’t get them.” ■
READ the full interview in the September Issue of Four Four Two.
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