Despite Bayern Munich’s first double in seven years, there’s once again drama off the pitch, and it’s unsurprisingly due to Uli Hoeness.
The ‘honorary’ president continues to make things about himself despite supposedly working in a hands-off advisory role.
Hoeness has regularly criticised sporting director Max Eberl, and did so again even before a DFB Pokal final which secured a first double since 2020.
Asked about Eberl staying next season, Hoeness said: “60 to 40 tendency in favour of an extension. There are still doubts.”
The comments were put to a shocked Eberl, who said: “I don’t care about the criticism right now.
“He said it. We actually talk all the time. We spoke yesterday, we spoke today. That’s why the 60:40 scoreline surprised me.
“The numbers are there now. We’ve had a very good season with the double. That’s what matters to me.”
Speaking later in the mixed zone, Eberl then hinted he could leave of his own accord.
He commented: “Then the person whose position is being questioned has the opportunity to say: Do I continue? Or not? That’s a completely normal process.
“The doubts are there. Apparently. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said it. I was naturally surprised that it happened today.
“Whether one has to disclose percentages publicly, I don’t know. But it doesn’t really matter.
“I’m the wrong person to ask about that. I’ve always said I want to do my job. And we’ve done that now.
“With the double win, the season was very, very successfully and well concluded. Now it’s the transfer window – and that’s what I’ll be focusing on now.”
Responding later, and perhaps showing some remorse, Hoeness told ARD: “It’s my honest opinion.
“Anyone who knows me knows this: I’m not one to say ‘Everything is fine’ today and then the opposite in four weeks.
“That’s the situation – and in two or three months we’ll know exactly how things will proceed. Personally, I see it as relatively positive for him.”
Yet this is nothing new for Hoeness, who isn’t meant to be in charge of any sporting matters at Bayern.
Last year he called plenty of unhelpful headlines by calling Eberl ‘over-sensitive’ in an interview.
Bear in mind, this is the man who signed Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz, giving Bayern the highest scoring team in the history of a top five European league.
Hoeness even admitted the Olise signing was all down to Eberl, with the rest of the board unconvinced.
Hoeness also recently criticised Eberl for wanting to keep Thomas Tuchel as head coach.
“At first, Max Eberl wanted to give Thomas Tuchel another year. Karl-Heinz ( Rummenigge), Herbert Hainer, and I prevented that,” he said.
It’s also been reported that concerns over Eberl’s management aren’t isolated with other members not pleased by his willingness to hand out huge contracts, particularly to expensive players from the Premier League.
Speaking later, Hoeness caused more problems by taking on supporters over flares at the Berlin stadium.
“I have to say something. The game and the result were great, but what the spectators, on both sides, did today was outrageous,” he told Sky.
“They completely ruined the game. My wife told me that you couldn’t see anything on TV for a long time.
“It had nothing to do with my eyes, but I couldn’t see at all in parts of the second half. If the spectators think that’s their way of celebrating, then I’m out.
“The clubs, the DFB, and the politicians must take firm action to ensure that such outrageous behaviour doesn’t happen again.
“The DFB is not at fault for anything, and it’s typical in our society that only one side is ever criticised, even though they haven’t done anything wrong.”
Giving Eberl some advice, his predecessor, Hasan Salihamidzic, said: “I had to go through that too.
“At FC Bayern, you have to expect anything, especially when Uli Hoeness, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Herbert Hainer are there. There’s always an interview you don’t expect.
“But that’s just how it is at Bayern, and that’s how the guys are.
“Hoeness has been very active in the media in recent weeks, and he always reserves that right.
“Therefore, as sporting director of FC Bayern, you simply have to live with it. Perhaps you even get some compensation for it.
“The interview [60-40 comment] was conducted on Friday, I happen to know that. Not that I want to defend him now – but knowing him as I do, he didn’t know it would be broadcast on Saturday. I
“I’m sure of that. And that’s why he would now say that it was perhaps a bit unfortunate.”
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