Franck Ribery keeps the FC Bayern in the final first round game on course in the direction of the title defense. The “old masters” has found back to old strength – as his club, the BVB-hunter number one in the winter break.
Franck Ribery is back – and so, the Bavarians are back in the game. For the second Time within four days, the Frenchman was the match winner for the Champions. After Ribery had provided last Wednesday with a goal in the closing stages for the 1:0 (0:0)-victory in Munich against RB Leipzig, he exhibited in the Saturday evening game at Eintracht Frankfurt with a double pack (35. and 79. Minute) the course for the 3:0 (1:0)-success of FC Bayern. Rafinha contributed with one of the “arc lamp”, the third hit of the guests at the (89.). The title defenders extruded with the fifth League win in a row Borussia Mönchengladbach from the second table to rank and overwinters as the first persecutor of leaders Borussia Dortmund.”We have set a landmark,” said Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “We’re on it.” Six points behind BVB.
“Complicated Phase”
As a double goal-scorer Ribery is – “our masters”, as team-mate Thomas Müller called after the game with a smile – for the way the Bayern out of the crisis. As it did not work with the Münchenern in November, saw many experts, the reason for this is the ageing cadre of the record master. Again and again the names of Ribery, 35 years old, and Arjen Robben fell in this context, 34 years old.
At the right time in the right place: Ribery the 1:0 for Munich
“It was a complicated stage,” admitted Ribery after the game in Frankfurt, looking back. “It was not easy for us.” Without a trace, the criticism of Ribery not passed. After 2:3 in Dortmund, on 10. November burned in him the Fuses: Ribery gave a French television journalist, is a slap in the face. He later publicly apologized: “It was wrong of course, what I’ve done.”
Always 100 Percent
Against Eintracht Frankfurt, Ribery showed once again why he is eleven and a half years, so important for FC Bayern: He stirred up the Eintracht defence, time after Time, and was twice at the right moment. “I try to always give 100 percent. That’s just my mentality,” Ribery happy to log. On the question of whether Bayern would not be well advised to extend his to the end of the season expiring contract for a second Time, he replied with a wide Grin on his face: “I love Bayern, the Bavarians love me. Who knows what will happen.”
Kovac: “it’s a Pity that he is already almost 36”
With the heart of a Bayer
The person in charge of the FC Bayern is not saved with praise for Ribery. “Franck is fantastic,” enthused coach Niko Kovac about his “world class player”: “quality you can’t lose.” Ribery, Kovac, played on the way out of the temporary power depth the team has an important role: “As he has worked in the last few weeks, was great. A pity that he is already almost 36 years old.” Chairman of the Board Rummenigge was not not inclined to make Ribery spontaneously a new contract offer, but clarified: “There are no old players, just good and less good. Franck is a very good player.” Ribery looks after the 3:0 victory in Frankfurt, a good chance for the people of Munich to defend the title: “Dortmund is strong, but we are back. I hope that Bayern will be Champions.”