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In an interview with Spiegel (via Bild/Sport Bild) Bayern Munich President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has opposed the controversial proposal by Andrea Agnelli, currently president of the European Association of Clubs and Juventus Turin, to reform the Champions League. Rummenigge sees little reason to change the Champions League:
Why, in fact, do we need to change anything? The Champions League is the envy of the world. It's by far the best competition in the world and the hardest to win.
Agnelli proposed a three-tier system with ninety-six clubs. The competition would involve a longer group stage and an almost permanent participation in high-end lucrative, regardless of the position in the national league. Rummenigge does not see the need for a larger group phase:
Nor am I a great friend of the idea of expanding the group stage. Even now, with the current model of groups of four, we often have in the end so-called "dead games" in which there is nothing to play.
Rummenigge sees the proposed reform as an extra effort to maximize profits. He questioned the opportunity to set the stage for even more inflationary salaries and transfer fees for players and defended the national leagues' priority this weekend. Rummenigge said,
Everyone is always looking for money. But where does this money go? It's not as if we now have an explosion of profits and our shareholders are participating. The money is paid into player salaries and agent fees. The most important thing is that the European Cup does not take place at the weekend, as this would lead to a major battle with the national leagues.
"I did not want to hurt him": support for Niko Kovac
Rummenigge then commented on questions about his apparent lack of support for Niko Kovac towards the end of his first season with Bayern Munich. Rummenigge had insisted that there was no "job guarantee" at Bayern, even after Kovac won the Bundesliga title.
The media has interpreted Rummenigge's insistence on the results as a veiled criticism, but Rummenigge has Spiegel,
I did not want to hurt him [Kovac]. I just wanted everybody to focus on our common goal.
Now, Kovac is safe: "I do not know of any club that would send their coach back after [winning] double. But success is the measure of everything:
Success is part of our club's DNA. We put this pressure on our advantage and everyone at FC Bayern must support it. Niko knows it too. he was already there as a player.
Rummenigge may have proved Kovac right once he delivered two trophies, but he still seems unhappy with the style of play that Kovac sought to inculcate at Bayern. Rummenigge said he expects a "spectacular football", as under Louis van Gaal, Jupp Heynckes and Pep Guardiola – "a little tiki-taka" that satisfies the club's claims.
Rummenigge then explained to Bild's sports editor why he refused to publicly support Kovac:
I have no interest in populism. It would have been easy after 5-0 against Dortmund, but I know how football players evolve. After the 5-0, we had an incredible sense of euphoria and satisfaction in the locker room. Rafinha turned the music; everyone has danced around. I know: we can not be satisfied; we must do everything to become champion of Germany otherwise all of Germany will make fun of us.
And the result of the reluctance carefully chosen by Rummenigge?
At the end of the day, it worked: there is no doubt that the team and the coach have been excellent, especially in the Rückrunde. Otherwise, we would not be champions.
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