The thrilling match against PSG has given FC Bayern a boost not only ahead of the second leg but also financially. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen explains what has happened in recent days.
The 5-4 match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Bayern wasn’t just great publicity for soccer and the Champions League—it was also great publicity for the clubs. The officials at the German record champions have felt this very directly in recent days.
“Thanks to the matches against Real and Paris, we’ve gained over five million new followers on social media,” says FCB CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen in an interview on the club’s website. “When FC Bayern is being discussed so intensely even in the U.S. and in major international media, it shows that global interest in FC Bayern has reached a new level. This is important for our fans, but of course also for our partners and sponsors.“
The quarterfinal second leg against Real Madrid (4-3) alone was ”reportedly watched by nearly a billion people worldwide,“ before the semifinal first leg in Paris then ”broke all streaming records.” These are important signals for Bayern in times when fiscal years no longer automatically end with a profit and it is becoming increasingly challenging to keep up with international competition.
“We operate differently—but no less successfully,” explains Dreesen, and yet “we are not naive: It is becoming increasingly difficult to hold our own, especially against the Premier League and its economic capabilities. At the same time, this season shows that money alone doesn’t decide everything. Many have talked about the six English teams in the Round of 16—currently, there is still one English team left.” Bayern could face Arsenal (1-1 in the first leg at Atlético) in the final.
“Praise won’t get us to Budapest”
What are the chances of turning things around against PSG on Wednesday? “At ‘halftime,’ we’re down by one goal—and that’s exactly how we have to approach it: humbly, because Paris has an outstanding team, but at the same time with confidence,” Dreesen emphasizes. “I can’t recall a celebration after a Champions League match where the atmosphere was anything like it was last week in Paris. I praised the team there—they deserved it—but I also warned them: We have to make up a goal. We can’t let up for a single second.”
The fact that the whole world was thrilled by the spectacle at Parc des Princes doesn’t help on the field. “Praise won’t get us to Budapest. We want to reach the final—and to do that, we have to thrill the soccer world once again against this immensely strong Paris side.”