The presence of Giovane Elber, Bixente Lizarazu and Hasan Salihamidzic at the FCB Erlebniswelt on Thursday morning brought back fond memories of Bayern's Champions League triumph in 2001. The club museum's impressive collection of silverware, mementoes and pictures of cheering players and fans testifies to all the other triumphs in the club's near 117-year history. But although Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Uli Hoeneß were visibly exuberant and upbeat at the official presentation of the new FCB brand ambassadors, it was not because they were basking in former glories.
When the duo took to the podium at the club museum the 5-1 victory over Arsenal was 12 hours old. "It was an evening to enjoy. I'm absolutely happy," Hoeneß enthused following the display against the Gunners: "I feel our team can play astonishing football when it's do-or-die."
'That's Bayern's attitude'
Rummenigge spoke of "an impressive demonstration of strength. It was a wonderful match broadcast to the whole world. You could see the team are capable of total focus when it's important," the Bayern chairman explained. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti was the mastermind of the gala, according to Hoeneß. "Carlo is a fantastic coach who has demonstrated he can shape a team from individual players."
"This time we played as we had planned," skipper Philipp Lahm said before leaving the Allianz Arena the night before. "The players know when they have to deliver." Scorer and leading personality Arjen Robben declared: "I've been here for seven and a half years now. We've always been rock-solid when it was do-or-die. That's Bayern's attitude."
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