FC Bayern lost a 2-0 lead against BVB and conceded the equalizer in the last minute. Consequentially, after the game, Borussia could be seen celebrating euphorically and Bayern’s heads bowed. The reactions from Munich were correspondingly disappointed, although coach Julian Nagelsmann remained surprisingly composed.
Sometimes a picture says more than a thousand words. In any case, Oliver Kahn’s reaction after Dortmund’s equalizer spoke volumes.
It was Leon Goretzka who initially gave FC Bayern the lead with his long-range shot. However, he would certainly have exchanged this for three points. “It’s hard to put into words. It angers and upsets us. We played well but we lacked the determination to take our chances and bring the win home. That’s way too much for us lately often happens”, the 27-year-old quarreled with the final result. Manuel Neuer took a very similar view of what happened: “It was certainly our fault and not Borussia Dortmund’s. We should have ended the game earlier, we had the chance to do so. The final touch was missing. Mistakes happen in football, but lately they have been too many,” the captain clarified.
With a win against BVB, Julian Nagelsmann could have silenced most of the critical voices. So it’s almost a little surprising how soberly he took note of the draw. “In the end I think the result is pretty fair. We had a lot of chances to decide the game. Then we didn’t defend well and conceded a goal. It hurts, of course, but it’s not undeserved. We could have Situation just before 2: 2 have to defend better, “explained the coach in the Sky interview. Nagelsmann saw an “even game”, but in some scenes one would have been “closer to winning”.
The fact that Munich ultimately didn’t win was partly due to injuries in the back four. Matthijs de Ligt was sent off after the hour and was replaced by Mazraoui. Nagelsmann made it clear that the Dutchman was substituted “injured”. By then, Alphonso Davies was on his way to hospital after being hit in the head by Bellingham. “There is a suspicion of concussion. That’s not surprising given the kick in the face. We had a class four months ago. We were told that a kick in the face is a red card. There’s no reason to argue about it. That It’s not a yellow card, it’s a red card,” Nagelsmann attacked referee Aytekin. This had spared the yellow-preloaded Dortmunder. Bellingham assured after the game that the action was unintentional, which is entirely believable but should not have saved him from being sent off. “It wasn’t intentional. I didn’t want to hurt him and wish him a speedy recovery,” Sport 1 editor Kerry Hau quoted the Englishman as saying.
After the game, Deniz Aytekin also announced his motives. According to the referee, the first warning was a “can yellow”. When he kicked, he “missed the last consequence to give yellow and red and ultimately decide a game like that”. One cannot entirely agree with this statement. He really could have left the card in the first foul, but the kick in the 45th minute was at least worth a yellow card.
This article was originally published on 90min.com as Aytekin explains decision against Bellingham sending off – The Stand at Davies and de Ligt.
