Bayern boss Kahn holds fire speech for Salihamidzic: "Show me any sports director"

Created: 04/20/2022, 08:47

By: Patrick Mayer

FC Bayern boss: CEO Oliver Kahn (left) and sports director Hasan Salihamidzic.

© IMAGO / Sven Simon

Hasan Salihamidzic has been criticized for missing goals for the season and for his transfers to FC Bayern Munich.

CEO Oliver Kahn is now reporting on this - and very clearly.

Munich - DFB Cup?

Out in the second round*, due to an embarrassing 0:5 at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Champions League?

Ko in the quarterfinals*, against the blatant underdogs FC Villarreal.

FC Bayern Munich has missed both the double and the treble this season and - despite the very likely tenth Bundesliga championship* in a row - is far behind its goals.

In this mixed situation, the work of sports director Hasan Salihamidzic is increasingly coming into focus.

FC Bayern Munich: Oliver Kahn defends work by Hasan Salihamidzic

In the reporting of German (sports) media, there has recently been increasing criticism of transfers, squad planning and faltering contract negotiations.

CEO Oliver Kahn* got involved in the debate – and very clearly.

The former goalkeeper gave a veritable incendiary speech for his colleague on the

program “Doppelpass” .

For example, Kahn publicly stated that player Bouna Sarr was below expectations.

Show me any sports director in the world where everything always works.

Oliver Kahn in a "one-two" over Hasan Salihamidzic

"Hasan and Bouna Sarr - do you think that was not the case at Bayern in the past?

That's totally normal.

There are simply players who just don't hit the ball like that.

There are always players who just don't live up to expectations," said the Bayern boss in the "double pass" and said with a view to Salihamidzic's work: "On the other hand, there are also very, very many good things, that worked.

Doing the contract extensions with Kingsley Coman, with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, which are pillars of this club.

Or Alphonso Davies.

In this position that Hasan is in, there are always things that sometimes don't work.

That's part of this job.

Show me any sports director in the world where everything always works and every player hits.

So sorry, I don't know anyone there."

FC Bayern Munich: Hasan Salihamidzic is under public pressure

The board would always talk about all positions when it came to squad planning, the 52-year-old continued and promised: “FC Bayern* will always, and by the way also in the future, have a team with 14, 15 absolute top players, with where we can win the Champions League at any time every year.

As far as the size of the squad is concerned, yes, we have to be creative.

We have to go different ways than English clubs, who can fill these positions with players who cost 30, 40, 80 million.” Kahn emphatically defended Salihamidzic's work.

In the video: Oliver Kahn on contract poker with Robert Lewandowski

"When we're on the subject of squad planning: It's such a complex and difficult topic today," he said and explained: "And in the end it's people who are on these boards, who are there on the computer, who you can't just say can slide from left to right in the computer.

This is an aspect that plays a role in squad planning.

Who are the people and how do we deal with these people. ”Salihamidzic is receiving increasing criticism, which FC Bayern * in the person of its CEO apparently does not want to put up with.

*