Jens Scheuer, coach of the FC Bayern women’s soccer team, brought a list of his players to the press conference the day before the second leg in the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening (9 p.m. on DAZN). He needs them, “otherwise I might forget one or the other”.
I meant those who will fail. But as life goes, the reminder did not prevent Scheuer from actually forgetting a player. Where leniency is appropriate, the journalists who were connected had also lost track of things in the past few days.
Twelve players are out for the game, so Bayern are practically leaving an entire team at home. Seven of them have been infected with Corona, including the key players Linda Dallmann, Sarah Zadrazil, Maximiliane Rall and Jovana Damnjanovic. Viviane Asseyi will also be absent in Paris because of a yellow card suspension. Three long-term injured players are also still out. And the fact that substitute goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs, who is still dealing with the consequences of her corona disease, is also absent, was simply lost in the press conference.
“UEFA says we have to compete”
A greatly reduced squad traveled to Paris. There will only be two outfield players on the Bayern bench, most likely substitutes from the second team. It is understandable that Bayern tried to move the game. But that was not an option for the European football association. “UEFA says we have to play,” said Scheuer and paused to explain what he thinks that does with the idea of fair play. The Champions League regulations, which were only modified in February, show that the game was played on the planned date if at least 13 players including at least one goalkeeper are available.
“It’s a catastrophe that the virus is afflicting us so much in the crucial weeks,” said Scheuer. On Sunday, his team will face the top Bundesliga game against leaders VfL Wolfsburg (2 p.m. at MagentaSport). But Scheuer still wants to play in Wolfsburg don’t waste a thought, after all in Paris it’s all about keeping the dream of winning the Champions League alive It’s the trophy that’s still missing from Munich’s showcase, if you want to win it you have to beat the best.
Getting ahead would be a sensation
A premium-class team is therefore waiting in the Prinzenpark; Alongside FC Barcelona, PSG are favorites for the Champions League title. And Bayern still have to make up for a 2-1 defeat from the first leg. Under normal circumstances, the business trip would have been challenging enough. But as quickly as Bayern are now running out of staff, progress would be a sensation.
Above all, Bayern will have to prevent PSG from switching from defense to attack in a jiffy. In this discipline, the Parisians are in a class, as Scheuer said before the first leg. That also shed light on which player you shouldn’t lose sight of for a second: Marie-Antoinette Katoto. As soon as a Parisian won the ball, the eyes and almost certainly the next pass went to her. The exceptional 23-year-old striker has already scored more goals than any PSG player before her.
Two more were added in Munich, each after a corner kick, which made Scheuer all the more painful, since defending standards requires concentration above all else. “We have to be more mature, be more disciplined,” he said on Tuesday, adding: “I’m looking forward to the standards in Paris because we’ll defend them better.”
Bayern can also take positives from the first leg. “We had a lot of offensive actions that we have to finish more effectively in the second leg,” said international Giulia Gwinn. Sydney Lohmann in particular was ineffective and unlucky in the second half, hitting the post twice instead of the net. The weakness of the Paris defense could be the right flank, on which the tireless Bayern striker Klara Bühl whirled her opponents upside down.
“For the girls who sit at home”
However, it is unlikely that the Parisians will be as defensive in their own stadium as they were in the Allianz Arena last week. If only because, according to the club, they will play in front of more than 25,000 mostly home fans, including numerous PSG ultras who are known for their stimulating effect.
On the other hand, the unfortunate starting position for Bayern may become a source of strength. Giulia Gwinn hinted at that when she said that the team would not only play for themselves, but “also for the girls who are sitting at home.” That could “unleash other energies again,” said Gwinn, adding: “We want to.” definitely make it to the semi-finals.”
