Just new representatives or more?
FC Bayern celebrates “gigantic” savior Sven Ulreich
October 4, 2023, 6:40 a.m
Sven Ulreich can be celebrated as one of the match winners after FC Bayern’s 2-1 win in Copenhagen. The veteran fulfills the job as a placeholder for Manuel Neuer – for how long? In addition to Ulreich, two youngsters and a legend stand out in Denmark. They have different requirements.
In his first banquet speech as CEO, Jan-Christian Dreesen named goalkeeper Sven Ulreich the Bayern savior of Copenhagen after midnight in the team hotel. The 35-year-old goalkeeper made a magnificent save in stoppage time to catch a header from Jordan Larsson with his left hand in front of the goal line and thus prevented FC Copenhagen from equalizing very late. Thanks to Ulreich’s final action on Tuesday evening, Munich remained 2-1 in the Champions League.
“I was particularly pleased that Ulle saved this important victory for us at the very end. Great!” Dreesen shouted into the hall and, after the applause of the noble fans, continued in the direction of Ulreich: “As a goalkeeper you really don’t have it Simple: Either you’re an idiot – or you just saved it. Today you saved it.”
The teammates thanked their goalkeeper immediately after the final whistle in the Parken Stadium. “The way he got it out at the last second – gigantic,” praised captain Joshua Kimmich. “It felt good that he got rid of that,” commented Thomas Müller. “I’m obviously happy that I managed to steer it around the post. That’s what you train for,” said Ulreich himself about his brilliant feat.
In addition to “Ulle”, youngsters are convincing
The veteran goalkeeper has done his job as a placeholder for Manuel Neuer, who is still unable to play after his broken leg, mostly reliably over the course of the season so far. “What he’s been playing in the last few weeks has been great for us,” said Kimmich. “Ulle is doing very well so far,” Müller also noted. But how often can he still play? Neuer’s comeback should be imminent.
In addition to Ullreich, FC Bayern’s youngsters once again stood out in Copenhagen. The goals from Jamal Musiala and Mathys Tel put Ulreich in the position to hold on to the win. Substitute Tel scored in the 83rd minute after preparatory work by veteran Müller, who had also come off the bench. Both were able to receive an extra portion of praise afterwards.
Coach Thomas Tuchel praised the “incredible push” of his jokers – especially Müller and Tel. “Thomas did it sensationally. And Mathys scored again,” Tuchel enthusiastically commented on the 34-year-old’s preparatory work.
Tel one like seals, says Müller
The old Müller and the young Tel. The latter in particular is becoming increasingly important in his second season with the German football champions. “You can see that he wants to score goals. That’s also a great quality,” said Müller about the Frenchman, who admittedly still lacks a bit of overview in some attacking actions: “But if you really want to score goals, sometimes you have to keep your head down have.”
When talking about the 18-year-old Tel, Müller even reminded him of a Munich premier class hero in the stadium catacombs. “When we remember Arjen Robben, we sometimes thought, okay, now he should have seen the man next to him. But Arjen was so focused on the goal – and that gave him a lot of goals.” The most important thing about the victory in the German Champions League final in 2013 at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund.
Müller simply wants to collect minutes
And that’s why Müller’s advice to Tel on Wednesday night was: “Mathys should continue to do his thing and look for lots of deals with his finishing strength.” As a joker, Tel had already scored the 2-1 winning goal in Mönchengladbach and also the important 4-2 in stoppage time in the 4-3 win at the premier class opener against Manchester United. Tel is pushing into the starting line-up. And Müller also doesn’t want to accept joker bets. He exuberantly celebrated his preparation for the goal. Did he feel satisfaction afterwards? “Satisfaction is a big word. But the joy is great,” said the national player.
The 2014 world champion does not want to talk about a new role in the Bayern team. “I’m a normal squad player and want to collect minutes. But I don’t just want to collect minutes, I want to play because I’m convinced that I can help the team with my strengths.” Tuchel called it normal that Müller “shuffles his hooves. Thomas is super hard-working. The energy he has is very visible.” He is an integral part.