Ahead of the crucial Champions League match in Paris (Tuesday, 9pm at B5 now), it looks like the tablecloth has finally been cut. Coach Flick had held himself up recently, but after a 1-1 draw against Union Berlin, he once again expressed his dismay: “Do you think I am enjoying it all?” He asked rhetorically into the BR microphone. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer called for “more calm” and President Herbert Heiner tried to create that by saying Flick would be Bayern coach after the summer.
But only a few believe this. Flick biographer Günther Klein is also skeptical: “Either he ensures that Bayern is listened to more, or he says, I’m leaving as a coach who won six titles in one season,” says Klein. Flick is the number one candidate to succeed Joachim Loew as national coach.
The dispute starts in January 2020
The feuds began at Bayern Munich in January 2020, a few weeks after Flick took office. At the training camp in Qatar, Flick criticized the team’s composition and publicly called for reinforcements. Salih Hamidic responded sensitively: “I was surprised that Hansi planned a media team. I am not a friend of that,” he replied. The fact that subsequently committed right-back Alvaro Odriozola played only 179 minutes of competitive play made the contention even greater.
Team planning remains a point of contention
Even before his contract was extended, Flick spoke of the transfer coach’s “veto power”, which was opposed by Salih Hamidic and the board of directors. The summer transfer phase brought new problems: Flick regretted the departure of Thiago and took note of the commitments of Leroy Sani and Alexander Noble. On Deadline Day, four newcomers came along with Mark Rocca, Douglas Costa, Erik Maxime Chubu Moting and Bona Sarr – most of them stayed at the bank.
I’ve heard time and time again that Flick is unhappy with the transfer policy. In addition, the loan of Portuguese teenager Thiago Dantas, who had come on Flick’s initiative, caused disturbances at the Bayern campus. There they preferred players from their ranks.