They have their own negative memories in that regard.
Bayern Munich’s triumph in the Beckenbauer Cup was a fitting tribute to the Bayern legend and saw a team of retired Bayern professionals, including Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry, lifting the trophy in Munich. Such a trophy lift is one the current team will want to replicate on May 31st, as the Champions League final takes place in Bayern’s home, the Allianz Arena.
Of course, Robben and Ribéry both experienced a UCL final in the Allianz Arena, nicknamed the Finale Dahoam, as Bayern players as they came up against Chelsea FC in 2012. Unfortunately, despite dominating the match and finishing with a shot count of 43 to 9, Bayern fell to Chelsea on penalties and had to watch the Londoners parade their trophy win around the Allianz Arena.
This year is the chance to make things right and, as Robben and Ribéry sit down for an interview following the Beckenbauer Cup win, they were asked to discuss the significance of the Champions League final being held in Munich. ”I think FC Bayern has two great chances this season: to win the Bundesliga and the Champions League,” Ribéry said, via Bayern’s official website. “Above all, I hope they reach the Finale Dahoam.”
Unable to resist, the interviewer brought up the 2012 final. But the duo did not want to talk about it.
“I deliberately didn’t say that,” Ribéry managed. “Because it still hurts so much that we lost that.”
Robben could not bring himself to even utter a word, merely shaking his head in sadness. That would be the former Real Madrid players’ only contribution to this part of the interview, as he would leave to have his photo taken.
Ribéry stayed behind, however, to answer one last question about the final in the Allianz Arena. What kind of role does a final like this in Munich play in the players’ minds?
“On the one hand, it’s good motivation, but on the other, it’s a lot of pressure. It was wonderful in the run-up to 2012: We’re playing at home, we know the atmosphere, the stadium, the city, the fans. But then, when you lose, it hurts more than anything else. 2012 was a shock for us, for the entire club, the city, the fans. A year later, we won the title: that’s football!”
That they did, able to parade the trophy around London’s Wembley stadium. Despite that cathartic victory, the question of “what if” still remains for the two legends. If Bayern falls short this year, how will that impact the squad for the years to come?
