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April 15, 2021

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Flick mulls future as Bayern exits UCL

Source: AP | 00:00 UTC+8 April 15, 2021 | Print Edition

Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick is mulling his future following the team’s UEFA Champions League elimination.

Flick, who has a contract through 2023 but has refused to say if he will fulfill it, has emerged as the leading candidate to take over the German national team once Joachim Loew finally steps down after this year’s European Championship. Flick was Loew’s assistant from 2006-14.

Flick delivered an impassioned monologue for more than four minutes after the defending champion’s exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain late on Tuesday, when he spoke about a future he is still considering.

“I have a contract with Bayern Munich and these are things that just come. You always think about what’s happening and how does it go on and so on, whether everything is wonderful or otherwise,” Flick told broadcaster Sky.

“I think the thing is for everyone in this position, whether as manager or coach or whatever, is how can I keep developing the team, the club? It’s a normal process — I’m always thinking, because for me it’s part of the process of success. And of course, you have to look.”

Former Bayern great Lothar Mattheus said on the same broadcast that there had been telephone contact between the German soccer federation and Flick, and that the 56-year-old coach is the federation’s favorite to take over from Loew. Mattheus also said Bayern is already considering RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann as Flick’s successor.

Nagelsmann responded yesterday.

“There were and are no talks,” Nagelsmann said ahead of Leipzig’s Bundesliga game tomorrow against Hoffenheim. “I don’t know where he got the information. You’d have to ask Lothar that.”

Flick led Bayern to a UCL, Bundesliga and German Cup treble after taking over from Niko Kovac in November 2019. Last week’s 2-3 loss at home to PSG in the first leg of the UCL quarterfinals was his first defeat in the competition, though the French club still progressed on away goals after Bayern’s 1-0 win in the second leg.

Under Flick, Bayern won 16 games, drew one and lost another in the UCL.

If he leaves the Bavarian powerhouse, and Bayern coaxes Nagelsmann from Leipzig in his place, it will add to the growing list of managerial changes for the new season.

Eintracht Frankfurt coach Adi Huetter is turning his back on almost certain UCL qualification to join Borussia Moenchengladbach and take over from Marco Rose, who is leaving to take over from Edin Terzic at Borussia Dortmund.

Frankfurt will be hoping that Tuesday’s announcement of Huetter’s departure does not lead to a collapse like Gladbach’s in the games after Rose’s departure was made known. Once a contender for UCL qualification, Gladbach is now in danger of missing out on European qualification altogether.

Bayern, meanwhile, is closing in on a record-extending ninth consecutive Bundesliga title. It’s likely to be the last under Flick.

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