Bayern Munich on Friday threatened to take action against the media over recent reports on some of its players.
Uli Hoeness, the club’s president and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the Chief Executive Officer, both accused the media of “outrageous, disrespectful and polemical” reporting.
Speaking at a news conference scheduled at short notice, the club bosses said reporters should now expect “mail from our media lawyer” for any false or inaccurate reports.
“When I read about Manuel Neuer then I just have no words. I would like to remind you that Manuel was world goalkeeper of the year four times,” Rummenigge told reporters.
“Same goes for Jérôme Boateng and Mats Hummels.”
“I don’t know if there are special laws for the media but we will not accept this kind of reporting any longer. Today is an important day as we inform you that we will no longer tolerate this derogatory and derisive reporting. We will protect our coach, players and club. It is outrageous, disrespectful and polemical,” Rummenigge also said.
The club also backed under-fire manager, Niko Kovac, who has been on a run of four games without a win in all competitions.
Kovac, at the media briefing, vowed to stick to his tactic to turn things around.
“Changing everything now would just be doing it for the sake of change and that never works, you have to stick to your plan,” Kovac insists.
“Throwing everything overboard and inventing something on the spot does not make sense. You will never get that from me.”
Bayern, who are favourites for a seventh straight league title, have lost two of their last three Bundesliga games. They have dropped to 6th on the table and are four points behind leaders, Borussia Dortmund.
“We cannot be negative, we want to be positive,” Kovac added.
“But we need that bit of luck. You need it in life and you need it in sport. If we get that, because we have been creating the chances in every game, then it will work for us again.”
The Bundesliga champions will travel to Wolfsburg on Saturday. They also face AEK Athens in the Champions League next week.
Discussion about this post