Champions League round of 16: Bavaria’s powerful statement and Kimmich’s future announcement

After the biggest and most impressive victory of the season, the proud Bayern stars referred to the imposing leader Harry Kane excessive triumph. Nevertheless, after the mighty 3-0 statement against the national rival Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, could not be overlooked and also not to ignore how much the Munich team also needed this football evening for their ego.

True to the club motto: Mia San back! 87 days before the final in his own arena, coach Vincent Kompany with his team around double packer Kane and the 2-0 scorer Jamal Musiala that the “title Dahoam” called out is not only wishful thinking, but also fulfilled 13 years after the bitter final defeat in the Allianz Arena against FC Chelsea.

“Half of the job is done”

“The pressure was there – and we came out with the right intensity, with the right focus,” rejoiced Kane. “Half of the job is done.” But also no longer, as the 31-year-old English man urged.

Bayern had not won against Bayer six times in a row. “We all had that in our heads,” said Joshua Kimmich: “There was a lot about the duels – and there was already noticing that we were there that we were handy.” The darn curse against Leverkusen’s master coach Xabi Alonso has ended. And a quarter -finals, probably against Inter Milan, is prescribed.

For the first time, Alonso’s tactics tricks and personnel decisions are completely shattered to Kompany’s bubble ensemble. “Stay calm,” the Belgian prescribed anyway. “We’re not talking about the technical KO,” said sports director Max Eberl after the demonstration of power. “We do not want to put on and say we put everything right. It was an important step. But we have to go the second on Tuesday. It will be a hot ride again.”

Xhaka defiantly: will not be given up

Mentality, intensity, aggressiveness, second balls, key moments and error avoidance – Bayern were better in all points. However, neither coach Alonso (“It is not over”) nor the mighty leader Granit Xhaka might surrender to the wiped double winner: “We will not give up. If we take the lead in the second leg, everything can happen.” So much has happened in football.

Immediately after the final whistle, Bayern strategist Kimmich was “a bit angry that we didn’t do a goal anymore”. After the yellow-red card for the 62-minute-light Bayer defender Nordi Mukiele, this was out of the question several times, most recently in added time on João Palhinha’s shot.

“It would almost have been decided with a fourth goal. You can already catch up with three goals,” said Kimmich. The 30-year-old focused on the stadium catacombs after the game. After a game break, he demonstrated his value as a manager because of a tendon irritation and recommended himself for a new million contract that sports director Eberl also wants to give him.

“The ball is not with me,” said Kimmich about the general astonishment after the recently withdrawn contract offer by the association. He seems to be willing. “In any case, a decision will come promptly,” said the DFB captain: “At the latest before the international break.”

This begins in the middle of the month. According to the “Bild”, the board and the supervisory board should make a “Kimmich decision” on Thursday. It is also about a lot of money for possibly four more Kimmich years in Munich. Eberl emphasized that Kimmich was “not greedy”. And the large earner was seconded: “It’s not about squeezing the last euro.”

The new is canceled, Urbig’s premiere

Rather, he praised the very honest conversations with the negotiators around Eberl, who fought for him. The record champion wanted to have Kimmich’s decision earlier. “This is also legitimate,” said the professional: “The club wanted to have a decision before the two games.” There were no – and the reaction of the Supervisory Board was the withdrawn offer.

Now the Kimmich decision could be done before the second leg. A handicap is then the failure of Manuel Neuer for the Munich team, who in his 150th royal class game at the goal was a fiber tear in the right calf and for the time being. For Neuer, 21-year-old Jonas Urbig came to his Bayern debut. The youngster mastered the cold start. “Jonas did a good job,” Kane praised the winter access of 1. FC Köln.

“Harry just wants to win titles”

Nobody in the white Bayern jersey fell this time. And in particular Kane went ahead. The 100 million man is recognizable on a mission in his second Bavaria year. “I’m not just a striker,” he emphasized. Kane mutates into a foreman who meets and meet, but also drives, repels and runs like never before. “I recently ran more in Stuttgart than ever in my career.”

The explanation provided sports director Eberl. “Harry just wants to win titles. He has already done a great job in his career, he has probably already scored over 300 goals. But he has never won a title. You notice that with him. He is sacrificing himself for the team. Two titles – championship and Henkelpott in the final Dahoam – are still possible for Kane and Bayern after the cup off against Leverkusen.