Bundesliga
Kovac back in Munich: “Meet many companions”
Returns to Munich as Wolfsburg coach: Niko Kovac. photo
© Bodo Schackow/dpa
Niko Kovac is returning to Bayern Munich as a coach for the first time since leaving. In the duel, the Croatian wishes for a win, especially after his difficult time there.
Almost three years after leaving FC Bayern, Niko Kovac returns to Munich as a coach for the first time without resentment.
At least that’s what the new coach of VfL Wolfsburg says: “It’s always nice to come back to where you’ve played or worked as a coach. That’s why I’m happy. You’ll meet a lot of companions in the game.” Kovac’s time in Munich ended anything but nicely. At the record champions, the former Croatian national coach was often seen as an emergency solution. After a 1: 5 against his ex-club Eintracht Frankfurt, the Munich parted from him in November 2019.
The 50-year-old had won the championship and the DFB Cup with FC Bayern less than six months previously. Then there was the Supercup – Kovac’s collection of titles from his time in Munich between July 2018 and November 2019 is quite impressive. “Niko Kovac definitely won more titles in his first season at Bayern than I did. I know that,” said current Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann. “Nevertheless, things did not end perfectly during his tenure.”
See you again with Mueller
Critical tones from the team and above all taunts from the management level accompanied Kovac in Munich from the first day of his tenure. Now it’s time to meet again – also with national player Thomas Müller, whom Kovac called an “emergency nail” at the time and mostly banished to the second row. At that time, even Müller’s wife got involved. “More than 70 minutes until he has a flash of inspiration,” she wrote for a photo that showed Kovac on the sidelines with her husband before he was substituted on in the 71st minute of the game. Great excitement, an apology and the deletion of the post followed.
The Croatian should also be very happy about a possible victory on Sunday (5.30 p.m. / DAZN) at FC Bayern, who started the season furiously, because of such anecdotes. So far, VfL have only been able to draw two in 25 games with the record champions. “Everyone hopes that the first time will come on Sunday,” he says. Kovac suspects that there shouldn’t be too many chances: “We have to accept the little that is delivered to us.”
“Intrinsic Motivation”
The 50-year-old knows what defines FC Bayern – “intrinsic motivation” – and he knows that his VfL lacked motivation and willingness to fight on the pitch last season. So far, Kovac has not been able to bring about any major changes with his ideas. At the start of the new Bundesliga season, they only managed a 2-2 win against newly promoted Werder Bremen last week.
The visit to Munich could therefore be uncomfortable for the native Berliner. In the past seven games in the Bavarian capital, the wolves have conceded more than four goals in four games. Kovac is warned: “The worst thing is when you fall apart in Munich and that must not happen.”