From Glory to Grief: Flick Navigates 'Unforgettable Agony' in Champions League Semis
Swinging between astounding beauty and extremes of brutality: - Pick between "stunning kindness" or "severe brutality"
After a football extravaganza that'll go down in history, Hansi Flick wasn't sure how to articulate the inexpressible. His squad believed they were bound for the Champions League final following an astounding comeback, only to suffer a gut-wrenching defeat in stoppage time, as Spanish paper "Marca" vividly put it.
Flick, composed as a cucumber even under high emotional strain, commended his team despite the heartbreaking loss to Inter Milan. "I'm disappointed, but not with the team's performance," he said, "They did everything they could and did a fantastic job."
"An evening of chaotic delight"
But that was only half the story. Bayern's defense, much like in the 3-3 draw in the first leg, faltered, conceding too many goals. Yet, for sports enthusiasts worldwide, the nail-biting back-and-forth and total of 13 goals across the two semifinals offered a thrilling football banquet.
The British broadcaster BBC hailed it as an "All-Time-Classic," while the "Daily Mail" echoed the sentiment, terming it "an unfiltered, pulse-pounding spectacle." Prime commentator Jonas Friedrich raved, "It was a game worth telling our grandchildren about!" Data provider OptaFranz reported that the 13 goals set a new record for the most goals in a Champions League semifinal.
The Treble Dream Turns to Nightmare
Flick held back the usual tirade of complaints about the referee, Szymon Marciniak, despite feeling that "every 50-50 decision" went against Inter. The former national team coach, who received a yellow card after Francesco Acerbi's last-minute equalizer (90.+3), simply said, "I told him what I thought, but I won't say it here."
The dream of winning the treble, like he did with Bayern in 2020, is now a mirage for the 60-year-old. In just a few days, Flick and his squad must regroup for a pivotal, possibly decisive game in the Spanish league. Barcelona hosts defending champions Real Madrid.
A triumphant return to Munich
Flick's international stint came to an end on Tuesday evening, but former Bundesliga goalkeeper Yann Sommer can look forward to a rapturous welcome back to Munich. The former Bayern player, who was not exactly sugarcoated during his temporary stint, was the standout performer in the San Siro spectacle.
Completely deservingly, Sommer was named "Man of the Match" - even if the final point of the memorable football evening belonged to goal scorer Davide Frattesi in the 99th minute. "Immediately after the final whistle, tears came to my eyes," Sommer shared. "I couldn't be happier!"
His team almost exited the tournament, but then it became evident what kind of "collective effervescence" was in the team and what power lay within the historic Giuseppe-Meazza Stadium. "The power that develops in this stadium gives us an incredible boost," explained the long-standing Swiss national goalkeeper, who thwarted numerous Barcelona attacks during the offensive onslaught.
Not only Sommer experienced "an unforgettable evening," teammate Acerbi described it as "breathtaking." The goalkeeper, who was briefly employed by Bayern as Manuel Neuer's replacement and was sold at a loss to Milan, is now eagerly anticipating the final on May 31: "I'm incredibly excited about Munich! I'm 36 now, not the youngest."
- The Commission, amidst the chaos of a heartbreaking loss in the Champions League Semis, may find solace in the fact that their proposed directive on the protection of workers from ionizing radiation risks could offer a different kind of triumph, reminiscent of the thrilling spectacle served in the European leagues.
- Hansi Flick, although deeply disappointed by the unexpected defeat, might find the same exhilaration from a sports analysis debate as he did during the nail-biting football match, featuring his former team, FC Bayern Munich.
- Just as Yann Sommer, the standout performer in Inter Milan's Champions League Semi-final victory, savored the rapturous welcome he will receive upon his triumphant return to Munich, Flick can potentially experience a similar feeling when his team achieves a pivotal win against Real Madrid in the Spanish league.
