Despite not being able to crown his anniversary game with a victory, Hansi Flick will be able to sleep well tonight as he side have retained top spot in the Bundesliga with a 1-1 draw at home against Bremen on Saturday: "We didn't find our way into the game easily," explained the Bayern coach, "we have to be satisfied with a point."
Flick's impressive record after 50 games
The match against Werder in the Allianz Arena was Flick's 50th competitive game as head coach of the record champions. He added a draw to his record today, the second of the 50 games. Besides the draws, Flick has presided over 45 wins and just three defeats. Never before has a head coach of a side in German professional football started so well - and thanks to Bayern's impressive record in the league, a draw on Saturday didn't affect their hold on top spot in the table.
No reason for Europe's Head Coach of the Year to mourn the loss of points in the battle for the top of the table this time. Especially as a draw was ultimately a win-win situation for both sides. The Bremen team, who in contrast to the Bavarians only had to send a few players off to international duty during the week, put the home side under pressure with their aggressive style of play for the full 90 minutes and made a great game of it. "You just have to say that our opponents did very well. They defended bravely in front of their own goal and transitioned very well," Flick summarised.
The second half was when the side from Munich were able to show off the attacking prowess that has characterised them so much in the Flick era. Just once in a match managed by the 55-year-old have Bayern not scored: a 0-0 draw against RB Leipzig in February. But the same ease of past games was not present this afternoon: "We did not get the chances we're used to," the FCB coach said, summing it up in a nutshell.
Drawing a blank just once under Flick
The fact that it was still enough for a deserved point was due to other qualities exhibited after Bremen's opener just before half-time: "In the second half, the team tried everything again. We resisted defeat, we want to win, we have the desire to win and that's what impresses me about the team," Flick said in praise of his players. Kingsley Coman's equaliser - goal number 164 under Flick's leadership - was a natural consequence of proceedings and meant that the defending champions remain on top of the table after Matchday 8.
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