BERLIN: Bayern Munich travels to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday knowing defeat in the tie will represent a failed season regardless of domestic triumphs.
After Saturday’s home defeat of Bochum, Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann cut a frustrated figure and looked anything but a coach who had just masterminded another week atop the Bunesliga table with a comfortable 3-0 home win.
The reality of the superclub era is that domestic success will matter little for Nagelsmann – just like his PSG counterpart Christophe Galtier.
Other managers have been shown the door at Bayern for less.
Niko Kovac was fired the year after winning the league-cup double with the side still in Champions League contention – Bayern eventually lifted the trophy later that season under Hansi Flick.
Even big-name European specialist Carlo Ancelotti was sacked by Bayern after the club lost 3-0 away at PSG in 2017 – and that was in the group stages.
Despite romping to their 10th-straight title in 2021-22, Bayern’s season was viewed internally as a failure due to the shock Champions League quarter-final elimination at the hands of Villarreal.
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Nagelsmann, then in his first season at Bayern, may have escaped most of the blame, but the situation will be different should the side be eliminated at the Round of 16 stage this time, regardless of the quality of the opposition.
Bayern has struggled since the resumption of the league after the winter break as three successive 1-1 draws allowed surprise challengers Union Berlin to cut their lead atop the league table to one point.
However, Nagelsmann has maintained a steadfast focus on their French opponents.
When PSG announced Kylian Mbappe could miss the first leg after the star striker went down with injury, an unusually testy Nagelsmann accused the French champions of mind games.
Nagelsmann’s players have talked a different game ahead of the crucial clash by expressing their enthusiasm for the tie and doubling down on Bayern’s European pedigree.
Midfielder Leon Goretzka said he was glad the wait to face PSG was over.
