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It is part of the tradition of FC Bayern Munich that Karl-Heinz Rummenigge after games in the Champions League at the subsequent banquet takes the floor. Often gave the Bayern boss in recent years at this point the admonisher, dampened after victories the enthusiasm, criticized in case of failure. In London, however, he was on the euphoria wave of a unique and unforgotten evening. Bayern had won 7-2 at the Tottenham Hotspur, who experienced their first terrible humiliation in their phenomenal new stadium.
"We wrote history," enthused Rummenigge, "that was incredible." Which is why even after this gala he did not manage to congratulate first and foremost the "coaching team at the top with Niko". Niko Kovac stood to the right of Rummenigge, he seemed very relaxed, but more, relieved and relieved.
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Champions League: Gnabry shines - bad foul on AlabaFor, of course, everyone spoke of Serge Gnabry, the four-time scorer: even more than Gnabry's evening, it was Niko Kovac's. It was the very first time that Kovac celebrated a big international victory with Bayern. And so for the first time that Rummenigge, who had fired numerous broadsides on the head coach in the past few months, seemed to convey the feeling: Oha, with this coach, maybe something is going on. Niko is not that bad.
Every shot a hit
Of course, the Spurs, as in the Premier League and the Blamable Off in the League Cup, were far from the form they used to play in the Champions League final in the spring and intoxication. It remains to be noted that Bayern did not experience a good first half hour, and at the end of each shot was a hit, the result somehow surreal and too high. And yet this appearance said a lot about the development of the coach, who could defeat with Bayern so far only two clubs in the Champions League. In autumn 2018 in the group stage AEK Athens and Benfica Lisbon. Not the big caliber. In the second round followed then already the end against Liverpool, a bankruptcy, which continues to him today.
Last season's Niko Kovac was a coach looking for himself, the right tactics, attitude and lineup. The Niko Kovac end of 2019 is one who has found himself. Niko Kovac is gaining in stature, in format, and also internally in authority.
In the past few days, his uncompromising attitude towards the last very capricious Thiago, who was weak at Paderborn 3: 2, exemplified his increasingly confident self-confidence. That the playmaker on Tuesday first sat on the bench, but surprised many - but was a memo, the effect was. Spurred on by the boat's dismounting, Thiago showed that at half-time he was on the field and that on good days he is one of the best midfielders in the world and can play the game like no other.
One recognizes a clear Kovac signature
To do this, the processes on the course are becoming more and more self-evident, faster and faster. Philippe Coutinho gets better and better with each and every effort, Robert Lewandowski continues to hit hard, his two goals were almost lost in the Gnabry show. And back even blends with the defensive more and more together, even the already written off Jérôme Boateng delivered until his injury-related substitution a spirited and mostly successful fight against striker superstar Harry Kane.
A year ago, the playing style of Bayern under Kovac often seemed incomprehensible. Illegible. Meanwhile, one recognizes a clear handwriting. The Bavarians are well on the way back to their old strength and conviction of their own self-image. Therefore, they tried after the Anschlussvor Kane to 2: 4 and not even to manage the result. They put forward, met three more times, lost in injury time Tolisso by distance shot the eighth goal only just. Later, Joshua Kimmich spoke of the "huge greed," Manuel Neuer said, "We're all hungry," and the goalkeeper added, "It was about time to put an exclamation mark." One that is also perceived in Europe.
The season is still very young, the Champions League takes a long time, much too early to cheer the Bayern equal to the big favorite on the Henkel pot. However, it is also difficult to clear the Bavarians in this form out of the way. And maybe Karl-Heinz Rummenigge will still be a big fan of Niko Kovac.