"Never the underdogs!": Rummenigge firmly disagrees with Hoeneß | OneFootball

The new Champions League season is about to begin – and a comparison made by Uli Hoeneß is causing discussions at FC Bayern. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge fundamentally disagrees with this view.

Uli Hoeneß compared FC Bayern to TSG Hoffenheim in light of the upcoming challenges in Europe's premier competition. "I can only say that I am looking forward to the coming season because we are entering the Champions League season like Hoffenheim," explained the honorary president at a DFL gala in Berlin. With this, he apparently wanted to lower expectations and highlight the challenging conditions.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge does not share this assessment. Speaking to the dpa, he made it clear: "No. I disagree with Uli Hoeneß on the point that we are the Hoffenheim of the Champions League. We are never outsiders. We may not always be the favorites, but that's not a bad thing. If you look at the two quarter-final matches against Inter last season, it simply wasn't our best level. Nevertheless, we could have reached the semi-finals against Barcelona – and maybe even the final."

Rummenigge: "One must not appear arrogant"

For Rummenigge, the attitude is paramount. "We must approach the competition with respect. One must not appear arrogant, otherwise, you quickly get a few slaps. If we approach the matter with concentration and the necessary humility, we can go very far. We can immediately show that we are capable of beating the club world champion."

The sporting challenges in the new league phase should not be underestimated: With FC Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and FC Arsenal, three heavyweights await Vincent Kompany's team. Hoeneß's intention to emphasize the role of the challenger is therefore met with opposition in Munich – at least regarding the choice of words. Even Harry Kane does not see Bayern as outsiders: "A club like Bayern always expects to win every competition."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.