Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthäus weighed in on the latest wave of public comments from the club’s honorary president, Uli Hoeneß. In his characteristic straightforward style, Matthäus offered a mixed response regarding the latest activity of the long-time Bayern figurehead.
“Uli has shaped FC Bayern for almost five decades. He has the right to speak his mind, but why always publicly?” Matthäus pondered (as reported by Sky Sport via @MiaSanMia). “If I were in a position of responsibility, I would say: ‘Hey, let me work! Uli, come to me, tell me what I can do. If I need help, I’ll come to you.”
In his latest statements, Hoeneß talked about the necessity of player sales before further transfers can be made—a standard operational truth in football. However, Matthäus believes that such declarations are best kept within the walls of the club. “Although his statement that players must first be sold in order to make further transfers is completely normal and understandable, he does not have to stress it publicly. Instead, he should discuss it internally with Max Eberl and Christoph Freund. Eberl and Freund are the decision makers in terms of their positions, but these statements show where the main decision maker still sits,” Matthäus noted, suggesting that Hoeneß’s public commentary undermines the authority of Bayern’s current decision-makers.
Reflecting on the possible reasons for Hoeneß’s comments Matthäus added: “Uli let Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidžić do their thing. He doesn’t want anything to go wrong again. Hoeneß’s worries and fears are becoming apparent. He hired Kahn and Salihamidžić, and he has put a stop to Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel. But unlike in the past, these decisions have not worked out recently. That is why Hoeneß is under enormous pressure.”
Hoeneß’s legacy at Bayern is indisputable, but one cannot help but feel that Matthäus’s comments strike a cord and reflect a growing sentiment within the fanbase, that his continual public involvement could be more disruptive than beneficial. “Uli may be the man who runs the club, but he’s no longer the boss. We can’t change Uli anymore and he has every right to express himself, but he often causes unrest by doing so.”
With the club under immense pressure to deliver footballing success, Matthäus’s call for internal talks rather than public declarations can be seen as both a critique and a plea. In the ever-turbulent world of football management, perhaps the best strategy is to let the new guard play the game while the old guard cheers from the stands.
Looking for some thoughts on Bayern Munich’s rumored handling of the roster during this season — and why the club might be trying to force some players leave? What about the latest transfer news on Matthijs de Ligt,Xavi Simons, and Désiré Doué, plus a strong take on why it would be great to see Niklas Süle get his footballing life together? Awesome! We have you covered with our latest edition of the Bavarian Podcast Weekend Warm-up Show. You can get the show on Spotify, Patreon, or below: