„That doesn’t diminish anything“: Eberl defends Bayern season after PSG exit | OneFootball

The disappointment at FC Bayern after the semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain was huge. After the 1:1 draw in the second leg, sporting director Max Eberl was downcast, but at the same time proud of the Munich team’s performance. However, the discussions surrounding the controversial penalty scene in particular caused him a lack of understanding

After the dramatic elimination against PSG, Max Eberl first had to collect himself in the mixed zone. „I also have to collect myself first,“ explained the Bayern sporting director, visibly disappointed

At the same time, the 52-year-old expressly acknowledged the quality of the opponents. „PSG unfortunately played an outstanding game. We may have made the wrong decision in one situation or another,“ Eberl analyzed

„The team gave everything“

Despite the elimination, however, the Bayern boss drew a positive overall conclusion about the two semi-finals. For him, FC Bayern had absolutely proven that they could keep up with the reigning Champions League winners. „I think we can be proud of this team over the whole time and also over both semi-finals,“ emphasised Eberl. It was particularly important for him to classify the balance of power. „The team gave everything, tried everything against what I think is probably the best team in Europe at the moment,“ he explained

Eberl repeatedly referred to the crucial little things that ultimately made the difference. „These were nuances that we were perhaps worse at one moment or another. Not about games, but about moments,“ said the sporting director

For the 52-year-old, it is therefore clear: „It shows that we can absolutely keep up with the best team in Europe, that we can absolutely play at eye level.“

Eberl struggles with the penalty scene

photo: Getty Images

Eberl became particularly emotional during the discussion about the controversial handball scene in the PSG penalty area, with the Bayern boss still irritated by the different assessments of the situation

„There are so many journalists standing around about the penalty decision, I think you all called referees too,“ explained Eberl. It was precisely these different assessments that made the situation so difficult for him to understand. „One half says: clear penalty, the other half says: everything done right. And that’s where it gets weird for me,“ said the Bayern boss

Above all, the current interpretation of the rules left Eberl shaking his head. „So what’s the rule now? And nobody can explain it to me yet,“ he explained. From his personal point of view, the scene was clear: „If I look out of my glasses now… Then it’s a handball in the penalty area.“

Of course, Eberl also did not want to claim that the scene alone had decided the match. Nevertheless, he believes that a possible penalty could have changed the game significantly. „If you then perhaps get that penalty, then it’s 1-1 and I think the momentum would have been on our side again,“ said the 52-year-old

„Have to accept that now“

In the end, however, he did not want to make excuses. „This is all hypothetical, it’s just guesswork. We played 1:1, we lost this semi-final by one goal. And we have to accept that now,“ Eberl made clear

One final message was particularly important to the Bayern sporting director: the elimination in no way detracts from his team’s performance this season. „If you’d been knocked out here in the semi-final without a trace, then it would have had a bit of a taste. For me, it has no aftertaste,“ explained Eberl.