FLICK: I’M QUITTING
Bayern boss Hansi’s had enough
HANSI FLICK revealed he told his Bayern Munich players and bosses he plans to quit at the end of term.
Moments after Bayern’s victory over third-placed Wolfsburg that stretched their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to seven points, boss Flick said: “The situation is I told the team that I informed the club during the week that I wanted to terminate my contract at the end of the season.
“It was important to me that the team heard it from me.
“We’ve done a great job together for almost two years.
“I’m absolutely impressed with this team, their quality and attitude.”
Flick has led Bayern to six trophies in the past 10 months and the Bavarians are on course for a record-extending ninth consecutive league crown.
But a power struggle with sporting director Hasan
Salihamidzic behind the scenes has played a key role in his departure.
He was frustrated with how the club allowed Thiago Alcantara to leave for Liverpool.
And the German champions failed to find suitable cover for their star striker Robert Lewandowski, who remains on the sidelines.
Flick has also been widely tipped to replace Joachim Low after the summer’s Euros and revealed that the job remains “an option”.
Flick was previously Low’s right-hand man for more than a decade, playing an integral part in the national side’s World Cup triumph in 2014.
The 56-year-old was only supposed to be a stand-in as Bayern searched for a big-name replacement last year but so impressive was his work he was rewarded with a long-term deal at the Allianz Arena.
Their Champions League exit to Paris Saint-Germain proved the final straw for Flick, with RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann – Bayern’s main title rivals – the hot favourite.
The news didn’t derail the league leaders yesterday as yet again Bayern were victorious.
Teenager Jamal Musiala and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting put Bayern up 2-0 after 24 minutes.
Wout Weghorst pulled back a goal in the 35th minute only for teenager Musiala to head in his second two minutes later.
Maximilian Philipp’s halfvolley reduced the deficit again in the second half but Bayern held on with keeper Manuel Neuer crucially denying Weghorst an equaliser.
The Wolfsburg striker had been flagged offside but replays suggested that decision would have been overturned by the VAR had his finish beaten the Germany keeper.