Thomas Müller seeks another encounter in the Champions League championships
Bayern Munich is aiming for a significant milestone before the commencement of the fresh Champions League: a repeat of the "home finale". Star players Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer have a personal drive for this achievement, possibly considering their professional twilight.
Last Stop Allianz Arena: Even before the start of the new Champions League, Bayern Munich has set its sights on the "home finale 2.0" as its ultimate aim. On May 31, 2025, "something significant" is expected, emphasized captain Manuel Neuer, expressing a deep sense of emotion: "We are aware of the impact of the previous final on the city, the fans, and us players. We have to make every effort to reach that stage once more."
The reigning champions kick off the new format of the "elite club" on Tuesday (8:00 PM on DAZN and live updates available on ntv.de) against Dinamo Zagreb. However, the final, scheduled for about eight months from now, already casts a long shadow over the European Cup season. Neuer, along with Thomas Müller, is the only one who experienced the heartbreak at home against Chelsea in 2012. Consequently, the two stars harbor a strong desire to achieve the major objective twelve years later. "With the Bayern spirit, it's a dream - and a realistic one," remarked seasoned Müller.
"What could be better?"
However, Müller and Neuer are not the only ones captivated by this thought. "What could be better than playing the final in your own stadium?", posed Joshua Kimmich. Board executive Jan-Christian Dreesen spoke of "a special season. Naturally, our fans share the same dream of another 'home finale'. It's a significant dream."
Dreesen even recalled the painful defeat against Chelsea, when Ivica Olic and Bastian Schweinsteiger missed their penalties in the shootout. "After the game, there was a deafening silence. Many people in Munich were still mourning for weeks, and the city atmosphere felt unsettlingly quiet." For Bayern coach Vincent Kompany, such a final is yet to be experienced. Achieving such a final is not through conversation, he said a few weeks ago, but through hard work.
Therefore far, the Munich team is on a good trajectory under their new coach. They have won their first four competitive games with ease - even "underdog" Zagreb should not trip them up. "We have to keep winning, we just have to keep going. On Tuesday, it has to be good once more - and then again, and so on," said Kompany.
The real tests lie ahead. Nine games are lined up until the end of October, including the duel against Barcelona with former coach Hansi Flick, and the top game against champions Bayer Leverkusen in the league on September 29. However, the belief in their own strength has returned to Bayern after a disastrous season. "We have our winner's mentality back," said Neuer.
In the new format of the Champions League, the primary objective for Munich is to directly qualify for the round of 16. To achieve this, they must secure one of the top eight positions in the table with matches against Zagreb, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica Lisbon, Slovan Bratislava (all home), Barcelona, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Aston Villa, and Shakhtar Donetsk (away). Therefore, the plan is clear. But without the traditional group structure, as Müller points out, "the reference values from the past are lacking. I can't yet accurately determine how many points are required to advance."
The Commission has received Bayern Munich's submission for special considerations in the new Champions League format, given their desire to recreate the "home finale" experience. In light of their previous heartbreak against Chelsea in 2012, both Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer, along with the rest of the team, are strongly advocating for this objective with the support of board executive Jan-Christian Dreesen, who shares their dream.
