BERLIN, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Celebrations seemed never-ending after Bayern Munich thrashed Benfica 5-1 to reach the Champions League knock-out stage. Relief was written on everybody's faces as fans sang on the terraces and players danced on the pitch.
But what does Bayern's success mean for under-fire coach Niko Kovac? The victory offers the 47-year-old brief respite as tensions in his relationship with the team are ongoing. In only three days, the Croatian will face his next survival test when Bayern has to travel north to take on Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.
Rumors still indicate that the former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger could replace Kovac. "Bayern's problem is not the Champions League but the Bundesliga and a nine-point gap to the leaders Borussia Dortmund," commented German legend Lothar Matthaeus who was capped 150 times for his country. Tensions within the Bavarian club always reach a climax when qualification for the Champions League is in danger.
Currently, Bayern is only fifth on the table and out of the four qualifying spots for Europe's top club competition. Kovac was in no mood for sweet talking either. "We have to repeat the performance in the Bundesliga. In big league games, the team is highly motivated, everyone wants to be part of it, but they have to prove their quality against Bundesliga underdogs," Kovac emphasized.
Recently, a disappointing 3-3 draw against promoted Fortuna Duesseldorf caused renewed unrest. Bayern president Uli Hoeness said the Benfica game was "like a final" for Kovac. Arjen Robben praised the coach's work and said he is happy for Kovac "as a human because he deserved today's success because he's investing a lot."
But Bayern's satisfying performance against Benfica wasn't a statement by the team for their coach. "It was a statement by the team for the team," Matthaeus stressed. "It wasn't a victory dedicated just to the coach. It was a victory for the club. He's a part of it like we are," said striker Thomas Mueller.
What's the next chapter in the story? Does Kovac have a better relationship with his team? He will be working as if on parole until the imminent winter-break; if he manages to get that far in the first place. Every single game, especially league matches, will have the character of a final.
Starting with Bremen this Saturday. The coach's relationship with his team is still said to be in a delicate state. Insiders report that Kovac has "lost the locker room" as he has been unable to mediate between the old stars and the young challengers.
He has rarely been given support by the club's leaders. It will be a Herculean task to regain trust and confidence. A first step might be the reimplementation of Kovac's tactical approach against Benfica, when he counted on a double six (Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich) to gain stability in midfield.
The significant number of injured players complicates matters as youngsters like Corentin Tolisso, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman are currently unavailable.
Ahead of the Benfica game, president Hoeness met key players like Mueller, Manuel Neuer, Robert Lewandowski and Franck Ribery for an emergency meeting.
In the next few days, Bayern's leaders - Hoeness, Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Sports Director Hasan Salihamidzic - are due to meet for further talks about the team and the coach's futures.
