FC Bayern in the semi-finals of the Champions League: Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed

José Barcala would have liked to savor the success a little longer. But depending on the dramaturgy, a football game like this can be over very quickly; as soon as the final whistle blows through the stadium, there is a tick. The FC Bayern coach sat on the podium at the press conference on Wednesday evening, which was much more opulent than Barcala is used to. For the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League, his team moved from the small campus stadium to the large arena, which is actually only separated from the southern Fröttmaninger Heide, but is a different world for the footballers. In front of 25,000 instead of 2,500 spectators, they acted noticeably nervous and couldn’t get the game under control for a long time before they got so upset with themselves and beat Manchester United 2-1 (0-1) thanks to two late goals.

The Munich team had been working for five years to make it into the top four clubs in the most important European competition for the third time in the club’s history. And Barcala answered some questions about the different halves, tactical thinking behind the formation and the meaning of this win. But the eyes were clearly on the next possible challenge: FC Barcelona, ​​which has won the premier class three times in the last five years and, with all its exceptional talent, is currently the best club team.

How does he want to overcome the nervousness that recurs in the initial phase, which his team cannot afford given Barcelona’s ruthlessness? “We’re all nervous about things that really matter to us. We just have to get through it, accept emotions, stand together and focus on what we can control.” What needs to change now for his team to win this time? “So you don’t think Real Madrid can prevail?” Barcala laughed at his query. Barça beat their long-term rivals 6-2 in the first leg, the second leg takes place this Thursday (6.45 p.m., Disney+).

The last duel saw a 7-1 debacle against Barça

In any case, the Catalans are the easiest team to analyze, everyone knows their strengths, explained Barcala. However, his team already had this knowledge in their most recent meeting in October in the league phase of the Champions League. And it didn’t prevent Barça from becoming an indigestible lump. The error-filled performance in the 1:7 debacle seemed like a bad harbinger that the double winner would miss his international goal again this season. Instead, reaching the semi-finals (April 25/26 and May 2/3) six months later represents the development that this team has undergone – as well as the work of José Barcala.

The club, coach and players only had to find each other after Alexander Straus had had a formative and successful effect for three years with his very own style. The Norwegian has instilled greater conviction in the Munich team and helped them to gain more dominance. Barcala should further develop its offensive style of play, which is based on ball possession and control. At the start of the Champions League against Barcelona, ​​the 44-year-old was unable to offer the Munich team a security option after his plan did not work. They still appear erratic instead of consistent in the first half, which led to Melvine Malard going behind early against Manchester. But when they wake up, the Bayern women reliably find playful solutions and tactical adjustments. Even if, in United’s case, they were rewarded late: Captain Glodis Viggosdottir equalized in the 81st minute before Linda Dallmann (84th) saved the evening.

Bayern coach José Barcala’s biggest trump card is his self-confidence and calmness

“He plays a big role,” said women’s football director Bianca Rech about the coaching role in the success: “How he clearly analyzes situations and communicates with the players without them having the feeling that anyone is nervous.” Barcala’s biggest asset is his confidence and calm, which the players say they value and describe as infectious. Before this serenity becomes a panacea for agitation, the recipe still needs to be refined. “Maybe today was another good lesson,” said Dallmann, who – when she was on the subject – thought: “We had a lot of lessons this season, but Barça was already the biggest.”

It could help that important players like Klara Bühl, Katharina Naschenweng and Jovana Damjanovic are expected back from injuries by the semi-finals. Because the Bayern women are currently fulfilling their expectations in all three competitions as the clear leaders in the Bundesliga and with the semi-final in the DFB Cup against SGS Essen (Easter Monday) and have now achieved what should become the standard of a season as soon as possible. But if the likely opponent Barcelona rolls over them like a steamroller again, the bottom line is that, despite all the effort and detailed work around a squad strong with players like Pernille Harder, Georgia Stanway and Momoko Tanikawa, there is still a gap to the top international players.

To be on the safe side, manager Rech decided to take the pressure off this game. “What comes next should be a lot of fun for us,” said the former national player as her motto: “You can dream. And you can also have the belief that we can annoy Barcelona.” Barcala does that anyway. To be on the safe side, he decided to boost his team’s self-confidence. Towards the end of the press conference, the coach started a eulogy about the potential. The players are so demanding of themselves, so obsessed with details and interested in football. “With this attitude, with this mentality, there are no limits,” said Barcala: “The development of this team is unstoppable.”

Should Bayern Munich’s journey actually not end in the semi-final second leg in Catalonia against the favored ensemble around Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, but rather the team advance to the Champions League final on May 23rd in Oslo, José Barcala can conveniently repeat his pathetic sentence again. Such a victory would have enormous significance and impact. And the coach should enjoy his success for a long time.