Bayern is currently fourth in the Bundesliga home table. Thomas Müller cannot be satisfied with that.Image: dpa / Tom Weller
Bundesliga
In football it is customary to talk the opponent into action. This has several advantages: no one can accuse you of disrespect, fan expectations are curbed and if you lose, you have an excuse ready.
Wolfsburg coach Niko Kovač also praised the opponent enthusiastically before the DFB Cup round of 16 against Union Berlin. “These are the strongest opponents we could draw,” was his assessment of the draw. In the first half of the season, VfL suffered a 2-0 defeat at the Alten Försterei stadium, and Wolfsburg also lost 2-1 in the DFB Cup on Tuesday.
As a Bayern coach, Kovac (with the cup) became champion and DFB cup winner in 2018.Image: Laci Perenyi / Laci Perenyi
“I think it’s easier to play in Munich than in Berlin at the moment”, Kovač ventured a comparison that doesn’t seem to go down too well with his former club, FC Bayern. After the Munich side successfully mastered the cup task in Mainz (4:0), the deputy captains Thomas Müller and Joshua Kimmich now took a stand.
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Müller takes Kovac’s taunt sporty
“The statements are certainly a bit out of context,” Müller said.sports1” classify the taunt. “But regardless of that, he’s right, of course,” the national player took it sporty.
Looking back at both teams’ recent home games, Müller knows: “They’re not doing badly, they’ve won everything and we’ve drawn twice.”
Thomas Müller was probably not satisfied with the recent results against Frankfurt and Cologne (each 1:1). Image: dpa / Peter Kneffel
Bayern have also felt Union strength at home first-hand: on the fifth day of play, the capital’s club forced a draw against the record champions (1-1) and knocked them off the top of the table.
In the home table, Union is even one point ahead of Bayern, despite one game less. However, both are still unbeaten in their own stadium, so FC Bayern does not have to be ashamed of their performance in the Allianz Arena.
“Let’s see”: Kimmich is looking forward to a direct comparison with Wolfsburg
But also in the overall table, underdog Union is hot on Bayern’s heels. With a win on Saturday against Mainz (3.30 p.m.), the Irons could temporarily jump to the top of the tableBayern would then have a duty on Sunday.
“We have to win every game now,” said Müller’s colleague Joshua Kimmich. As he reveals to “Sport1”, he also noticed the Kovač pricks: “Our ex-coach has already made a statement. Let’s see what [am Sonntag] happened”, the midfield conductor referred promisingly to the upcoming game day.
Joshua Kimmich wants to celebrate his eighth German championship with Bayern this year.Image: dpa / Sven Hoppe
On Sunday (5.30 p.m.) the record champions will meet Kovač and VfL Wolfsburg of all places. This time, however, the home strength of the wolves is in demand, the Bayern had won the first leg in Munich 2-0.
Rumors of Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard leaving have been circulating for several months. Although the Frenchman regularly gets minutes, he is dissatisfied with the position in which coach Julian Nagelsmann uses him.
