Hoeneß after Bayern victory over Athens: "We are not as arrogant, as you always think"

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There have been a few weeks to see at the home games of Bayern Munich, which had previously not existed for years: empty seats. Hundreds. So also in the 2-0 win against AEK Athens in the Champions League. Officially, the stadium is sold out every time, which is why it is probably seats that belong to annual cardholders. But more and more people do not find anyone who goes to the stadium for them. That could be because the home games of Bayern are no longer a footballing pleasure.

After all, on Wednesday the first came to zero in the arena under coach Niko Kovac, and the second half was in phases handsome. That was enough to become the sole Group E leader. And Bayern need a point in the home game against Benfica on 27 November for the qualification for the last sixteen.

The two goals to victory, however, did not fall out of the game, and both needed help from outside. In the first case of the gate judge, who had seen before the penalty to 1: 0 a questionable foul (31). In the 2-0 after a Kimmich corner steered an Athenian defender of the ball per capita directly on the foot of the twin packer Robert Lewandowski (71). "The way was not outstanding, it was not a great performance again," said Joshua Kimmich, who played after his critically eyed excursion into the defensive midfield against SC Freiburg (1-1) again this time as right-back.

"It was not fireworks, but that was not expected today," said coach Niko Kovac. He had actually expected such a game before the game: three, four goals, so that once again burst the knot. And if not against such a harmless opponent as AEK, when?

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Positive was the team unity on. If not in the playful sense, then at least in dealing with each other. Franck Ribéry, for example, kept her fingers crossed in the direction of the other players, even in the case of bad passes. One remained patient with each other. At the Torjubel everybody was looking forward together. "That's the basis for the victory." This statement made a striking number of players after the 2-0 win in identical wording, so as to summon the team spirit. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said that at the moment you have to "fight for everything" because the lightness is lacking. And he remarked in open words: "It is definitely a difficult time."

Everything sounded like Bayern had pressed a reset button. Gone are the times of Guardiola's 7: 0-superiority, past with the light-footedness as under Jupp Heynckes. Rolling up your sleeves, holding them together, fighting and biting - the Bavarians are gradually adapting their rhetoric to their playing style.

Also or just because that does not always work together. In the past week, moles had blurted various internals, the main topic: training morale under the current coach. Kovac said to Sky on Wednesday: "I think that should be stopped, I do not know what kind of benefit they will have, but if they both ... well, they both tell me if they catch you, give know. " Maybe that's why Kovac knows who it is. Against Athens, however, Bayern succeeded effortlessly in appearing more closed than the guest. Uros Cosic pulled his fellow player Niklas Hult namely after a bad action by the hair, to measure this.

The appearance of Uli Hoeneß

But who could prove better that FC Bayern are really serious about the new modesty than Uli Hoeneß?

At first it sounded like the threat of the next offensive attack when the Bavarian president called out to journalists: "I'll be right there." A few minutes later, however, it was clear: Hoeneß is just beginning to turn things around, with phrases like these: "We would always like to have the championship, but if it's not like that, Bayern will not go down." After Dortmund you drive "not as a favorite, but as an outsider." He was sorry that he insulted ex-player Juan Bernat at the press conference. No, you will not go against moles, "that's an ulcer that you can not get rid of," says Hoeneß. It is more important, "to satisfy the audience again."

Of course, he is still fully behind Kovac. You have "a team in transition" and "a young coach who has to work in. You have to be patient."

Three days before the top match against Borussia Dortmund Hoeneß is moderate. He calms down, pleads for cohesion, even in case of failure. "We are not as arrogant as you always think," he told the journalist.

This was even too fast for some players. That as an outsider to Dortmund drive, there may be "tactical calculus" behind the statement, Mats Hummels suspected. He even finds it "completely does not matter", whether you travel as an outsider or favorite to Dortmund. Manuel Neuer says: "We are at eye level." But perhaps Hoeneß's statements are not about a change of heart. A victory at BVB, who just had to cope with the first defeat, and everything could be back to normal.