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Munich's Robert Lewandowski (left) in a duel with Dortmund's Emre Can
Photo:
Sven Hoppe / dpa
Hansi Flick was of course asked about the two early goals conceded later.
How it could be that Dortmund were leading 2-0 after less than ten minutes.
And that his team was once again behind early, now for the 13th time in 24 games of the season behind a deficit.
"We'll take a closer look at the warm-up program," Flick replied with a smile, "maybe we have to change something." He left it at that.
Because after the 4: 2 on a brilliant evening like this, general criticism of renewed defensive sleepiness was completely inappropriate for the Bayern coach.
Rather, it was the right time for him to praise him extensively.
"I would like to highlight the whole team, it was a sensational comeback," said Flick, before mentioning three more crucial terms.
"The team had mentality, morals and the will."
Exactly what the opponent didn't have this time either.
Which is of course why FC Bayern triumphed again.
And not Borussia Dortmund.
As always.
If you are looking for an all-encompassing in-depth analysis, for the reasons why this classic between red-white and black-yellow lasts 90 minutes and FC Bayern always wins in the end, this top game provided the appropriate explanation.
This one encounter on Saturday evening alone was an exemplary symbol to demonstrate what Bavaria has had for years.
And what BVB has been missing for years.
This could be seen in the appearance of the actors during the game.
And especially afterwards.
Brave, unfortunately, only for ten minutes
Even if they no longer play for the title this season, it would have been the evening in which Dortmund would finally have been able to prove that they are on a par with Bayern.
If only they had continued to play as they did at the beginning, when the triple winner counted and seemed disoriented towards a bitter home bankruptcy.
"Unfortunately we only played bravely for the first ten minutes," Can later summed up.
"After that, we didn't try to play football." Because they lost their courage, looked afraid, and lacked self-confidence.
Like every time in Munich, where they had conceded six bankruptcies at 3:26 goals in the past six years.
Now there are seven defeats with 5:30 hits.
It was enough to take a look at the body language of the players in the middle of the first half, when the already hesitant guests seemed to lack the belief in a win, despite a two-goal lead.
And despite the deficit in their unshakable self-confidence, Bayern were so confident that, of course, only they would win here in the end.
Who else? Dortmund, for example?
Laughable.
Characteristic of the entire second half, when BVB consistently tried to only manage the draw, very uninspired and ultimately very unsuccessful thanks to the late goals by Leon Goretzka and Robert Lewandowski.
The entire Dortmund dilemma was really revealed after the final whistle, when Marco Reus was at the Sky microphone.
It was about the scene in front of the third Munich goal, when Can lost the ball after a push from Leroy Sané in midfield, a borderline bump indeed.
Duel?
Foul?
A matter of interpretation, referee Marco Fritz allowed the game to continue.
"A clear foul game," Reus exclaimed and added: "If that had been at Bayern, he would have whistled 100 percent." When asked how he came to this point of view, the Dortmund captain replied.
"It's so.
Because that's just the way it is.
In Bavaria it would have been whistled.
Ready, off. "Reus then added that the referee" didn't have the balls to whistle. "
Haaland is replaced
Reus was not alone in this view, and Can also complained that the referee had "whistled too much on demand." And Edin Terzic also complained: "There was one or the other physical contact on the other side that was not whistled," he said Trainer.
"That was a clear foul game." Complaining and lamenting, quarreling with themselves as well as with the referee, the performance on the pitch as well as the reactions afterwards showed once again that BVB regularly has a problem with the right attitude.
The outburst of anger from Marco Reus in autumn 2019 is unforgettable when he snapped at a reporter when asked about the missing mentality: "You with your mentality shit." The question is always justified.
To the players, but also to the coach.
This was also evident when Erling Haaland was substituted, the double scorer who always seemed able to overcome the shaky Bayern defense in the event of a counterattack.
After an hour, however, Terzic took him from the seat, and not at all because of a kick from Jérôme Boateng shortly before.
“That wasn't the problem,” the coach said later, “Erling has been playing every game for weeks.
We have to be careful and protect him. ”At the score of 2: 2.
So in the really big duel in Munich you take the best player off the field.
Because you have to be careful and replace a Steffen Tigges, a regional league player.
It might not have been possible to understand everything, but it fit into this image of a club that is constantly insecure, especially in these games.
On the other hand, Thomas Müller spoke of the »spirit, aggressiveness and fighting spirit« of his Bavarians.
“That is our identity”.
An identity that Dortmund seemed to be looking for again on Saturday.
Bavaria: Mia san mia.
Dortmund: And who are we?
Even if the canned turf ballers from Leipzig should establish themselves in the long term as future permanent title rivals of Bayern, the duel between Munich and Dortmund will certainly remain the most famous hit in the league for the time being.
But it could also be one-sided in favor of Bayern in the future if only one team shows will, morals and mentality.
It's so.
Done, off.
Icon: The mirror