Bayern Munich go to war with the press: We will no longer accept this kind of media coverage

Vow to 'protect their players' in staggering press conference

Posted Saturday, October 20, 2018 by Marca.com

The football world was abuzz with speculation when Bayern Munich announced a press conference for Friday morning with all key decision makers at the club expected to be present, yet many were taken by surprise when Karl-Heinz Rummenigge led by saying that the club will no longer accept the kind of media coverage they've recently received.

Bayern Munich have been stuck in a poor run of form recently and results have slid, with their most recent defeat coming in a 3-0 humbling at home to Borussia Monchengladbach.

As a result, much of the early speculation suggested that this press conference would confirm the departure of coach, Niko Kovac, with Arsene Wenger even lined up to replace him on an interim basis.

This was not to be the case as the powers that be at Germany's most reputable football club launched a sensational attack on the gathered media.

"We will no longer accept this recent kind of media coverage," Rummenigge explained in the press conference.

"We met on Monday after Germany's international match against the Netherlands and have decided we'll no longer accept this style of journalism.

"What we've had to read in recent times has nothing to do with performances, it was a settlement with individual players, today we will protect our players, our coaches and the club."

Uli Hoeness was also present and equally as furious about the issue, detailing that it was time for the Bavarian giants to make their position clear.

"It's about time the biggest club in Germany take a clear stance on this issue," he declared.

Rummenigge wasn't quite finished there either, suggesting possible legal action should such reporting continue.

"I have no words for what I've read about Manuel Neuer, I would like to remind you that Manuel was world goalkeeper of the year four times," he intimated.

"Today is an important day as we inform you that we will no longer tolerate this derogatory and derisive reporting.

"If I have to read that our central defenders Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng play 'old men football' I would like to remind you of Article 1 of the Constitution, that the dignity of a person is unassailable."

Such a dramatic press conference is unprecedented in German football, and it's unlikely to endear Wenger should the German champions be interested in his services in the future.

What was even more bizarre is how the press conference ended, with club president, Hoeness, publicly lambasting Juan Bernat in a press conference entirely dedicated to criticising the media's portrayals of players.

"When we played in Seville he was solely responsible for us almost being eliminated," he confirmed.

"That day, we decided that we would sell him because he almost cost us all the success in the Champions League."