Fifty years ago, Bayern became the first German team to win a hat-trick of Bundesliga titles and the European Cup – all within the space of eight days. Members magazine ‘51’ has taken a look back at four unforgettable games and forgotten moments off the pitch in May 1974. Part 3 reveals how the team went about preparing for the final in Brussels against Atletico Madrid.
Monday, 13 May
The last training session on German soil took place at 1pm. Afterwards, Udo Lattek went without his team to study the TV footage of the semi-final between Atletico and Celtic, which the Spaniards had won 2-0. His verdict: “They are still underestimated by the experts.”
Unlike nowadays, the players were given very little information about their opponents. “I knew whether my opponent Adelardo was more likely run to the left or the right,” recalls Rainer Zobel. “And we’d heard that they received higher bonuses than us. That was extra motivation.”
Uli Hoeneß reported a good atmosphere in training: “Everyone was very relaxed. We’ll be able to play freely in Brussels.” However, Gerd Müller was suffering from a knee and ankle injury after a collision with substitute goalkeeper Hugo Robl. His participation on the Wednesday was in doubt.
Everyone was very relaxed. We’ll be able to play freely in Brussels.
Uli Hoeneß
The team then travelled to the airport. The departure from Munich-Riem was scheduled for 4pm but was postponed by several hours because the police received an anonymous bomb threat: “Something will happen to FC Bayern on the way to Brussels.”
The BAC One-Eleven aircraft only took off after all the luggage had been checked again. It eventually landed in Brussels at 7.10pm. The team stayed at the Le Grand Veneur hotel in Keerbergen, a villa suburb about 35 kilometres from the Belgian capital, surrounded by a golf course and a three-hectare park. The place was wonderfully peaceful.
Read part 2 of our series here:
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