At Bayern Munich, who challenge Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the knockout stages of the Champions League, the winning mentality, without arrogance, and the demands of the leaders are a trademark.
“Mia San Mia”, “we are who we are” in French. Three words to sum up the particularity of the Bayern Munich machine, which presents itself, Tuesday, February 14, at the Parc des Princes to scrap with Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 first leg of the Champions League. In Bavaria, the state of mind is essential. This is even what has characterized the club for decades. But what does it actually mean to play for Bayern Munich?
“Mia San Mia is the total will to succeedexplained two years ago, the Bavarian icon Thomas Müller on the Bundesliga website. There are no compromises, only victories. It’s a hard-core winner’s mentality, with a good dose of self-confidence, but without arrogance. Everyone gives their all in training. Those who disagree with this idea are in the wrong place.” The mentality has endured in Munich since the 1970s, when the generation of Franz Beckenbauer, Sepp Maier and Gerd Müller won three Champions League in a row from 1974 to 1976.
The art of consistency
Unlike other European leaders, Bayern Munich has never experienced a low period in the 21st century. While Real Madrid struggled in C1 at the end of the 2000s, Manchester United has not seen the semi-finals of the competition since 2011, or FC Barcelona and Juventus have been experiencing difficulties in Europe for a few seasons. , the people of Munich have always played the leading roles there. “Apart from a soft spot in the early 1990s, which didn’t last very long, Bayern remain extremely consistent. This formation is known for doing everything possible to achieve its objectives”, notes Jean-Charles Sabattier who comments on the Bundesliga on beIN Sports.
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Starting with the management of its workforce. “Bayern target always players with strong characters, able to adapt to the mentality heredetails Maximilian Koch, German journalist specializing in the club for the Bavarian media Abendzeitung. Then, executives like Thomas Müller, stamped Mia San Mia, fulfill their role. If rookies like Joshua Kimmich or Leon Goretzka felt so quickly at home in Munich, it is partly thanks to them. This same mentality is also instilled in the youth categories, from which comes the nugget Jamal Musiala.
Maximum requirement
But the durability of this state of mind, despite the succession of coaches, is mainly explained by the presence of the elders within the club’s organization chart. “The Bavarian legends have been in place for a very long time and form a family. Uli Hoeness was already in the leading spheres of the club forty years ago”illustrates the journalist ofAbendzeitung.
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“It is not insignificant that Karl-Heinz Rummenigge [nommé Ballon d’or en 1980 et 1981] was replaced by former goalkeeper Oliver Kahn as chairman of the board. It is the basis of what makes the identity and the nature of Bayern Munich.adds Jean-Charles Sabattier.
The leaders set sporting, financial and even societal objectives each year during a general assembly with the fans. When you wear the Bayern Munich jersey, you are therefore invested with a mission to honor the crest worn.
Jean-Charles Sabattier, journalist commentator of the Bundesliga for beIN Sportsfrance info: sports
The Bavarian council also maintains a high level of requirement. “You always have to win and do it with style, insisting for ninety minutes, continues the beIN Sports journalist. If you settle for an easy 1-0 win, you’re taking a serious comeback from the leaders.”
Trust reigns
A perpetual questioning that bears fruit. “At Bayern, we are not far from perfection. There are no flaws”, recognized Jean-Pierre Papin, who wore the colors of the club between 1994 and 1996, in the columns of 20 minutes. “It is one of the biggest teams in Europe, capable of winning everything and making economic profits every year.”
Bayern are the only club that has never presented a negative financial balance sheet since 1982. They have remained in the green even during the pandemic.
Jean-Charles Sabattier, journalist commentator of the Bundesliga for beIN Sportsat franceinfo: sport
A Bayern, winner of the last ten seasons of the Bundesliga. It is “the main objective of the Bavarians, season after season”, as Jean-Charles Sabattier points out. It is therefore no coincidence that serenity is often the order of the day, even before facing PSG in the Champions League. “There is a form of confidence, which is not arrogance, but which is linked to this Mia San Mia mentalityjudge Maximilian Koch. Although Manuel Neuer is flat rate [le gardien s’est cassé la jambe au ski en décembre], people within the club remain, by nature, very confident ahead of Paris.”
The habit is explained not only by the fact that the German press prefers to approach the matches one after the other, but also by a technique of the Bavarians who preserve themselves from any media panic, even if it means kicking into touch on subjects that do not do not concern them, like the speculation around the injury of Kylian Mbappé.
“Diversionary measures are a big specialty of Bayern to allow the team to concentrate and divert journalists from the sportsman”, recalls Jean-Charles Sabattier, taking the example of the Neuer affair, angry at the club which dismissed his friend and goalkeeper coach, who has been making headlines across the Rhine for two weeks. “It suits everyone: Julian Nagelsmann can prepare quietly with his group.” In short, protecting yourself to give your all during the real battle, that’s also the Mia San Mia mentality. It’s up to PSG to try to outsmart it.