After the 2-1 triumph over PSG, CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen gives an exuberant banquet speech and highlights a Bayern duo. He briefly turns serious on one topic.
Even those in the expensive seats at the Parc de Princes had to suffer on Tuesday evening if they supported FC Bayern. “The second half demanded everything from you, but also a little from us in the stands,” reported CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen as he gave his obligatory banquet speech that night. “We cheered them on and fought alongside them in our hearts.”
With success: although Luis Diaz, who scored twice, was shown a red card shortly before half-time, Munich secured a 2-1 victory over defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and moved to the top of the Champions League table. Dreesen therefore sent a “wow” and an ‘amazing’ to Vincent Kompany’s team after a game that “felt like a semifinal or final” to him.
After a dominant first half, in which “we could certainly have scored three or four goals,” other qualities were required when down to ten men. “I heard Vincent in the dressing room: We showed real fight, everyone stood up for each other. We showed that we can not only conjure up magic and score goals, but also defend, that everyone fights for each other and wants to win together. This united team performance is extraordinary.“
Nevertheless, Dreesen (”I hope you’re not mad at me“) took the liberty of singling out two players: Joshua Kimmich, who played his 100th Champions League game, and Manuel Neuer, whom UEFA named ”Man of the Match“ as goalkeeper. ”That rarely happens. Manuel kept us in the game today in the second half. Manuel, you were magnificent,“ he said, addressing the 39-year-old directly and eliciting laughter from the audience: ”It’s amazing what you can still achieve at that age!”
Bayern organizes additional bus drivers with the fans
Dreesen became more serious when he talked about the Bayern fans, who were subjected to unusual hardships before they could enter the stadium due to a last-minute order from the Paris police prefecture. “I would like to thank our fans, they really didn’t have it easy this time,” Dreesen said, referring to the “arbitrariness of the Paris police.”
At least there was a small happy ending. Due to the late arrival at the stadium, the fans were facing a long night in the parking lot after the final whistle because of the bus drivers’ driving times. But: “We managed to organize second and third bus drivers with the fan clubs, so that the fans can still get home today,” revealed Dreesen. “I would like to express my sincere thanks for that.”
