Battle for millions: Why the Champions League matters to Bayern | OneFootball

On Wednesday evening, FC Bayern will kick off the new Champions League season with a home game against Chelsea FC. President Herbert Hainer used the days leading up to the opener to make clear statements both athletically and economically – and warned about the “pound” from London.

Hainer spent almost all of the past few days in Fröttmaning. Friday saw the unveiling of the Franz Beckenbauer statue, Saturday the 5-0 win against Hamburger SV, Sunday an exchange with the over-65 fan generation – and now the focus is on the first duel in the Champions League. For the president, the Champions League is not only a sporting highlight but also a challenge for the entire club structure.

“Financial dominance is a fact”

Hainer made it clear that, despite their economic strength, Munich faces financial heavyweights at the European level: “The financial dominance of the Premier League is simply a fact – and as a result, it becomes more difficult for FC Bayern,” he emphasized in a conversation with tz.

With Chelsea, Bayern faces right at the start an opponent that represents the power of the English league. Nevertheless, the president remains optimistic, as Bayern have impressed in their previous Bundesliga matches. He also points to the return of key players: “In the coming months, three injured players – Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, and Hiroki Ito – will rejoin the squad. The attacking lineup we have – Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Luis Diaz, plus Serge Gnabry and, upon his return, Jamal as well – you’d be hard pressed to find that in Europe.”

However, Hainer also emphasized that success in Europe always depends on luck: “To win the Champions League, at the end of the day, you also need that oft-cited little bit of luck.”

Titles, Millions, and Re-Election

Photo: IMAGO

In addition to sporting ambitions, Hainer also looked at the financial aspects of the competition: “It is well known that you can earn up to 100 million euros in the Champions League. And of course, that is factored into our financial planning to a certain extent.” At the same time, he stressed that, at the moment of kickoff, numbers no longer matter: “When the whistle blows at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, all I think about is winning.”

But it’s not just the Champions League casting its shadow ahead. On November 2, the annual general meeting will take place, where Hainer will stand for re-election. This year, the event will be held under the motto “125 Years of FC Bayern” and will feature an exhibition as well as insights behind the scenes of the basketball division.

Hainer expressed pride in the club’s development over the past twelve months: “For the first time in the club’s history, we have become German champions in all three professional sports – men’s and women’s football as well as basketball. Beyond that, we remain in a strong financial position.”

For the president, the AGM is a special event: “For me, it’s like a big gathering of the Bayern family – I always look forward to it.” With 410,000 members, Hainer sees the club as being in a strong position and promises to continue to stand for a “home for everyone.”

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