League Cup: Uli in Red

By: Jan | July 23rd, 2007

Uli Hoeneß contra Klaus Allofs There are three things to learn from this weekends quarterfinals of the League Cup: Bayern Munich plays attractive football, Bastian Schweinsteiger should play in their starting XI and Uli Hoeneß doesn’t tan well.

A Bayern Munich side that is fun to watch is a welcome change in contrast to what was sometimes on display in previous seasons. But they weren’t just entertaining, they were also victorious and brushed Werder Bremen away with four goals to one. Yet, it’s difficult to assess whether that is really a taste of things to come. Bremen so far had a quite unconvincing preseason with defeats against Basel and Liverpool. Compared to the Liverpool match they actually looked vastly improved in my opinion. And Bremen played without Diego, Naldo, Carlos Alberto and Almeida. Not really their A-Team. Bayern fans might argue that their side was missing players as well, but seriously: there is no such thing as a Bayern Munich B-Team. There is only Bayern Munich A and Bayern Munich A2.

Bastian Schweinsteiger continues to enjoy a strong comeback, scored another goal and makes his claim to partner up with Franck Ribery as Bayern’s creative midfield in the starting XI. “We don’t think much. We just try to play football instead and have fun,” explained Ribery, who contributed two goals to the final scoreline.

But the centre of all attention was certainly Miroslav Klose, who had acted very calm and diplomatic in interviews prior to the match and tried to take the heat out of the confrontation with his old teammates. Not so Uli Hoeneß whose red tanned head offered a beautiful visual analogy to his temper. Uli is often dubbed Department of Attack by the press, or Department of Truth by himself, and he hit out at Klaus Allofs and Werder Bremen during half time. And since Klaus Allofs had been standing right next him, he hit back and since they were both on camera, it was there for all of us to enjoy.

More and less accurate summary (as in not 1:1 but accurate in spirit)

Host: negative remarks have been made about Klose, especially by players (e.g. goalkeeper Tim Wiese)
Klaus interrupts: everything was quoted out of context. 90% praise 10% critique turned by the press into 100% critique. Reminds everyone to take into account what had happened prior to the transfer.
Uli: “You are pros, you should know how the media works.” Thinks that was weak by Bremen.
Host: 1st attempt to wrap things up. Everything has been cleared up.
Klaus interrupts: “Nothing has been cleared up. Bremen acted correctly. Bremen treats players, including former players correctly.” Miro hasn’t been dissed.
Uli sarcastically: “As exemplified by your fans.”
Klaus: “But that’s normal, Uli.”
Uli: “That happened because of you.”
Klaus: Disagrees.
Uli: “Do you think it’s right what your fans are doing?”
Klaus: “Uli, unfortunately the media added fuel to the fire.”
Uli: “Have you ever asked your fans to stop?”
Klaus: “Did you notice what happened to Tim Wiese?”
Uli: “Let me tell you something. If our fans would do something like that than I’ll intervene.”
Klaus: “Did you hear what the Bayern fans said to Tim Wiese?”
Uli: mumbles disagreeingly
Host: “What did they say?”
Klaus: “They abused him as well. It’s an unfortunate fact that the masses get heated up by the media.”
Uli: “Only if you let it happen.”
Host: 2nd attempt to wrap things up.
Fans in the background start ‘Hoeneß, you asshole’ chants.
Klaus interrupts host again: Everything has been reported out of context.

Then the host and pundit handed Klaus and Uli their shovels and buckets and they trotted back to the playground. Klaus then said that they had even shook hands after the match.

In other news Schalke beat Karlsruhe 1-0. I didn’t see the match, but it was supposedly ok’ish in the first half and boring in the second. And Ivan Rakitic isn’t the new Lincoln yet.