In a cosy atmosphere at the stadium on Schleißheimer Straße, Munich’s best-known sports bar, the Amazon Prime team (showing the top matches of the top division on Tuesdays) led by presenter Sebastian Hellmann, commentator Jonas Friedrich, Clemens von Thielmann (Business Lead Sport) and expert Matthias Sammer talked about the upcoming Champions League season. Sammer found clear and surprising words.
His favourite for the Champions League title, for example? FC Bayern. He likes the way the Munich team plays football even after Robert Lewandowski’s departure. Sammer finds the “changed style of play with pace, with greed” due to Lewandowski’s departure highly attractive, as he emphasises: “Now I can sit down and say I don’t think it’s good in relation to Dortmund or others, but over the years you become a lover of football. Beauty should also get respect and not envy in the recognition of those who see it. Quality gets recognition and respect from me. “
Sammer: On Lewandowski’s return “I expect … “
Sammer also had something to say in the direction of Bayern fans and the media. Particularly with regard to the exciting return of Robert Lewandowski when FC Barcelona visit Munich on the second matchday of the group stage. “I think we have a role model function in reporting,” said the TV expert: “And the expectation that respect is shown to a superstar.” He warns that one should “not draw lots now about how many whistles there might be”: “I got to know Bayern for four years and I expect them to remember that there was a worthy representative of their time, who now plays for another club, made history and achieved something that no one would have thought possible after Gerd Müller.” With the addition: “Whether there’s an idiot whistling or not whistling. There will be more than one. But that must not be the focus of the discussion. “
Sammer on Haaland: “…then he must also suffer and endure “
Equally, Sammer is looking forward to reuniting with Erling Haaland and his great start in the Premier League. Winking and joking, he says: “Haaland is not in good form at the moment. In five games only nine goals.” He says Sammer was convinced from the start that the Norwegian would also work directly at Manchester City after his time at BVB. “I always said: why not?” Of course, Haaland was not involved in the game as often at times, “he only had two ball contacts in 20 minutes yesterday: for the first goal and the second goal,” Sammer cites the 6-0 win over Nottingham Forest as an example: “It is perhaps the case that when Manchester City have a dominant game and come to the box less, then he also has to suffer and endure.” But for him, there is no doubt that the ex-Dortmund man will also come up big for the Skyblues.
Sammer on Süle: “…then he is a wonderful player for Dortmund “
And last but not least, Sammer also commented on the fitness discussion with Niklas Süle: “He’s an important component, but he was banged up, has to find himself. Mats Hummels also did well.” Dortmund’s 2002 champion coach underlines: “As Sebastian Kehl also said, he needs to get a rhythm now, then he’s a wonderful player for Borussia Dortmund. Niklas Süle, like many footballers, has to deal with prejudices, but that doesn’t matter in the factual-analytical situation. He’s back and will soon be making wonderful plays again for Borussia Dortmund. “