The press conference after Bayern crashed out of the DFB Pokal to Bundesliga 2 side Kiel on Wednesday night was always going to be tense.
Flick faced up to the media after overseeing Bayern getting knocked out of round two of the German Cup for the first time in twenty years.
Wednesday evening also marked the end to the defence of the treble.
Bayern were stunned by Bundesliga 2 promotion contenders Holstein Kiel who knocked the German and European champions out the cup on penalties after the game finished 2-2.
The result comes off the back of defeat to Borussia Monchengladback last weekend meaning Bayern have already lost more games in 2021 than they did in all of 2020.
“Certainly the engine is not running smoothly and Wednesday we experienced this in the most brutal fashion.”
Head coach Hansi Flick looked his usual calm self but snapped after persistent questions about the defeat to Kiel.
When one reporter tried to get into the mechanics of the penalty shoot-out Flick replied: “This is over. We are not looking to that penalty shoot-out any more. I am looking forward now and do not want to talk about this.”
Flick didn’t deny things are wrong at Bayern but explained this was to be expected with the level of performance given in 2020.
Flick said: “The year 2020, that was not normal for Bayern to play at that level the whole time and I did expect us to experience a bit of a slump but my team showed incredible mentality and made it to the top of the table before the winter break.
“Certainly the engine is not running smoothly and Wednesday we experienced this in the most brutal fashion.”
Further articles:
–Defensive issues piling up as Bayern crash out the cup to division 2 minnows Holstein Kiel: Analysis
–RB Leipzig miss the chance to go top as Sancho and Haaland fire Dortmund to victory at the Red Bull Arena: Match report
–Winter break’s over and Bundesliga is back on: what’s been and what to look out for in the coming months
Flick saw an incredible turn around since taking over as Bayern Munich boss after Niko Kovac was sacked in the middle of 2019.
Under Flick, Bayern went on a relentless streak winning 42 of 48 games and losing only one in 2020, claiming the treble for only the second time since Bundesliga was set up in the 60s.
“We are lacking a mental freshness, but let me repeat we had a very intense year in 2020 and I think every professional athlete knows there are certain situations where you are not at 100 per cent.”
Flick wouldn’t be drawn into the form of Niklas Sule after the defender’s poor showing in recent weeks but instead explained Bayern need to defend as a team.
Flick said: “The whole team is under pressure in defence not only the back four. We need more pressure on the ball and we need players adapting to certain situations. We are lacking a mental freshness but let me repeat we had a very intense year in 2020 and I think every professional athlete knows there are certain situations where you are not at 100 per cent.”
Bayern face Freiburg on Sunday sitting two points ahead at the summit of Bundesliga with the Breisgau Brazilians, as they’re fondly known, eighth. The champions have not lost any of the last 20 home games against Freiburg. The last time the Breisgau Brazilians posted a win was all the way back in 2015.
Bayern Munich v Freiburg Sunday 17th, KO 2:30pm GMT.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 