Team vacation after Mainz bankruptcy
FC Bayern’s “Ibiza affair” indignant Matthäus
May 2, 2022, 1:11 p.m
The Bundesliga has its “Ibizagate”. After the 1: 3 in Mainz numerous Bayern players travel to Ibiza. Sports director Hasan Salihamidžić describes the short trip as a “team-building measure”, record international player Lothar Matthäus can’t believe it.
The weather could have been a little better. A maximum of 21 degrees and light rain were probably not what the FC Bayern players had expected from their short trip to Ibiza. And then the stress: Saturday right after the embarrassment at FSV Mainz 05 (1:3), back on Monday, public training on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Sports director Hasan Salihamidžić downplayed it as a “team-building measure”.
Record national player Lothar Matthäus could only shake his head at this “Ibiza affair”. “It’s not possible after this game,” he said on Sky90, “not just because of the players, but also because of the public image”. The Munich supporters were annoyed by the team’s performance, “and then the players go on vacation”. In coach Julian Nagelsmann’s place, he would have taken “harder” action and canceled the two days off.
The short trip was said to have been announced, as Salihamidžić hastily emphasized in view of the excitement on Sunday. “Last week the players informed us that they would like to spend the two days off training in the group in Ibiza,” he said at the request of the Munich media, adding: “We accepted this as a team-building measure.” Acceptance doesn’t sound like enthusiasm.
Not all players on board
Salihamidžić obviously saw a significant need for justification for the outing. The team have “set even higher goals this season and have been very busy with themselves and their future path since leaving the Champions League,” he said, adding: Strength can grow from defeats, he knows that from his playing days, ” such a joint action by the team can be an important basis here”.
Where community is rather exaggerated. According to research by the “Bild” newspaper, eight players were missing on the short trip: above all Manuel Neuer, after all the captain, and Thomas Müller. Dayot Upamecano, Kingsley Coman, Niklas Süle, Bouna Sarr, Marcel Sabitzer and Sven Ulreich were also said to not be on the Balearic Islands.
It is above all the timing that caused a shake of the head after winning the championship and the embarrassing beating in Mainz. “I would definitely not allow something like that,” said Hertha coach Felix Magath, who is said to be concerned about the seriousness of Munich on the remaining two matchdays: On Sunday (5:30 p.m. / DAZN and in the live ticker on ntv.de) plays FC Bayern against VfB Stuttgart, Hertha’s competitor in the relegation battle.
Salihamidžić rushed to put Magath’s worries at ease. “It’s absolutely clear,” he said, that “our players” against VfB “will do their utmost with the professionalism and footballing strength that characterizes them to give our fans a nice end to the season as German champions in their own stadium with a win .” Clear.