Bright floodlights illuminate the pitch, the Südkurve disappears under an impressive tifo, the famous anthem plays, and suddenly you can feel that special tingling sensation. Champions League nights are said to have a certain magic, an intoxicating feeling that the fans in the stands carry down to the pitch. This energy was in the air when Bayern battled it out with Manchester United in the group stage, when they fought back to beat Lazio in the round of 16, and when they gave Real Madrid a run for their money in the semi-finals. It carried the Munich side all the way to the knockout phase last season - something that is evident in our new FC Bayern documentary, which sheds light on the team’s journey in the 2023/24 Champions League.
Watch the documentary ‘Chasing Wembley’:
Exclusive insight in ‘Chasing Wembley’
‘Chasing Wembley’ tells the story of FC Bayern's 2023/24 Champions League season from perspectives previously unavailable to the public. Only with FC Bayern TV PLUS will you be one of the first to have exclusive access to this film and experience exciting interviews and behind-the-scenes insights, before the documentary becomes available on our YouTube channel at a later date. The Bayern players talk about their experience of the atmosphere in Champions League matches. They talk about success and setbacks, as well as the special cohesion that welded the team together during a difficult season. Sven Ulreich, for example, refers to a “sense of togetherness” that grew with every win in Europe and ultimately spilled over to the club and the fans.
The players also emphasise the extent to which the vociferous support from the stands pushed the team forward. Leon Goretzka put this into words after the second leg of the round of 16 tie against Lazio. “Again, you had the feeling that all the power that the Allianz Arena can create in such a moment was released. And those are the great moments, the Champions League nights that you remember.” As the team emerged from the tunnel, the Münchner Kindl - the city's emblem - stretched across the entire Südkurve. The motto of the evening was written at the base: “In the name of the city”. Harry Kane was very much impressed: “When you go out and see the fans and see what it means not just to the fans, but to the whole of Munich and everyone here at the club.”
Electric atmosphere
Of course, that didn't pass any of the players by. Goretzka spoke of a turning point in the dressing room ahead of the quarter-final encounter away at Arsenal. “Something was different from the other games. You could feel that everyone had a much higher level of focus and concentration. The music was different, everyone was a bit energised. And you could tell that everyone was going to try and convince those who didn't believe in it today,” the midfielder recalled in the documentary. Kane recognised a great opportunity: “It's been a season of ups and downs for the whole team, but we've got a real opportunity to put things right now in the latter stages of the season if we can progress in the Champions League.”
And Bayern did just that, making it to the semi-finals against Real Madrid. The first leg was played in front of a sell-out crowd at the Allianz Arena, which the fans turned into a fortress that evening. “There was an incredible atmosphere in the stadium, something I've never experienced before,” said Konrad Laimer. Thomas Müller also said: “It was very, very big what the Bayern fans put on there.” For Eric Dier, it was a balancing act: “There are two sides to it. You have to feed off that energy. And then you have to try not to let it affect you, not to do crazy things. You play 50 percent with your heart and 50 percent with your head.”
Special encounters and fun anecdotes
The exclusive interviews with players are accompanied by footage from down on the pitch as our cameras followed the action up close. They captured moments that TV viewers are usually denied on matchday. In addition, the players tell some fun anecdotes, with Laimer, for example, explaining why the team wanted to give him a dog after they progressed against Arsenal. Müller, Kane, Alphonso Davies and more describe their perception of the fans' reception before the semi-final first leg at the Allianz Arena. “One of the best experiences I've had in my football career,” said Kane.
You can currently watch the documentary ‘More than 90 minutes’ about the women's team:
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