Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the legendary former Bayern Munich striker (1974-1984) and a member of the club’s supervisory board for several years, spoke with T-online. The executive discussed the club’s current situation at length, including the Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain (first leg this Tuesday, April 28th at the Parc des Princes, second leg on May 6th at the Allianz Arena). This led him to comment on PSG’s evolution, its current strength, and past attempts to sign Ousmane Dembélé (28-year-old forward) and Désiré Doué (20-year-old midfielder/forward).
Rummenigge: “Both matches against PSG will demand our absolute best.”
What are your expectations for the team in this Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain?
Both matches against PSG will demand our absolute best. Everyone will need to be at their peak, and the team will have to replicate the performance from their 2-1 league victory in Paris – and this must be the case in both matches.
They played fantastic football in the first half. And in the second half, after Luis Díaz’s sending off, their defense reminded me of that old saying by Sepp Herberger (coach of the 1954 World Cup-winning German team).
Which one?
“One for all, all for one.” The team’s defense was exemplary, with total commitment on every shot and every dribble. This match now serves as a benchmark for both semi-finals.
Rummenigge: “PSG proved something essential.”
Is the duel between Bayern Munich and PSG the long-awaited final?
Of course, it could also be a great final, but we’re in the semi-finals. Arsenal has long been lauded, but now seems to be experiencing a slight dip in form in the league and could well lose its Premier League top spot to Manchester City. Nevertheless, the other two teams in the semi-finals shouldn’t be underestimated.
What makes PSG so dangerous?
Since Luis Enrique took over as manager in 2023, the Parisian team has become a top-level side, built with great intelligence. PSG has proven something essential.
Rummenigge: “Before, people went to PSG for the money; now, it’s because it’s one of the three best clubs in Europe.”
What?
You can’t buy everything; you also have to build a team patiently. When we beat them in the 2020 Champions League final, they had Neymar and Kylian Mbappé in their ranks. A year later, Lionel Messi joined them. On paper, it was a fantastic team, but it’s clear it didn’t function as well as the current team. Today, it’s a well-organized squad with a lot of quality, especially in midfield and attack.
Before, people went to PSG for the money; now, it’s because it’s one of the top three clubs in Europe. It’s undeniable that they’ve done a good job. European football can consider itself fortunate not to rely solely on English or Spanish teams of this caliber anymore.
Rummenigge: “So it was obvious that we, a club sponsored by Adidas, wouldn’t necessarily be a priority.”
Ousmane Dembélé (2016) and Désiré Doué (2024) were also on Bayern Munich’s radar in the past. They now play for PSG. Are you disappointed that these transfers didn’t go through?
I was personally involved in the Dembélé deal (as CEO; editor’s note). We, and especially our sporting director at the time, Michael Reschke, were determined to sign him, but unfortunately, Dortmund beat us to it.
Why?
At the time, Dembélé was playing for Stade Rennais. The club’s owners were also the owners of Puma. Dortmund had a kit deal with Puma. So it was obvious that we, a club sponsored by Adidas, wouldn’t necessarily be a priority. He was an exceptional player, but as we saw, he quickly left Dortmund for Barcelona. He’s undeniably a very good player, but he also needs proper guidance.
Rummenigge: “It’s a fact we have to accept; it’s part of the game.”
And Doué.
We would have loved to sign him; he would have been a perfect fit for our team. But he chose Paris because he wanted to stay in France. Inevitably, we will miss out on some players in the future because other clubs might offer higher salaries. That’s a fact we have to accept; it’s part of the game. As you can see, Paris and we are managing this situation quite well.
