Challenged at home, Bayern Munich’s season faces true test in Paris

BERLIN: Bayern Munich travel to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday knowing defeat in the tie will represent a failed season regardless of domestic triumphs. After Saturday’s home defeat of Bochum, Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann cut a frustrated figure and looked anything but a coach who had just masterminded another week atop the Bunesliga table with a comfortable 3-0 home win.

“There was too little movement” the 35-year-old said, promising “if we play like that on Tuesday, we won’t go any further (in the Champions League).” Nagelsmann even threw a little warning to his starting 11 on Saturday, saying his team “only got better after the 60th minute (when) the substitutions brought fresh momentum.” “That’s when we earned the result, not before. We have to improve before Tuesday.” The reality of the superclub era is that domestic success will matter little for Nagelsmann — just like his PSG counterpart Christophe Galtier.

Other managers have been shown the door at Bayern for less. Niko Kovac was fired the year after winning the league-cup double with the side still in Champions League contention — Bayern eventually lifted the trophy later that season under Hansi Flick.

Even big name European specialist Carlo Ancelotti was sacked by Bayern after the club lost 3-0 away at PSG in 2017 — and that was in the group stages. Despite romping to their 10th-straight title in 2021-22, Bayern’s season was viewed internally as a failure due to the shock Champions League quarter-final elimination at the hands of Villarreal.