Bayern Munich’s Disturbing Reactions to Achraf Hakimi and Luis Diaz’s Performances

Man of the match, without a doubt, Luis Diaz was the standout player in the Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. The Colombian, signed this summer for €6.3 million, made an early impact with two composed goals, leaving the French side struggling. However, his game turned upside down just before halftime when he tackled Achraf Hakimi from behind, injuring his ankle. The Moroccan player left the field in tears, unable to put weight on his foot, while Diaz initially received a yellow card but was later sent off after a video review.

Despite protests from Bayern players, Diaz headed to the locker room. His night ended with two goals and a red card. Receiving a score of 7 from the FM Editorial Team, Diaz experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, facing backlash from PSG and Moroccan fans on Instagram. Following his team’s 2-1 victory, he chose to remain silent, but his teammate Josip Stanisic voiced support for him.

Unexpected Reactions from Bayern

“He knows he needs to be smarter in situations like this. Did he apologize to the team? No, he didn’t. We thanked him (laughs). I’m joking! He was happy, just like all of us,” said Bundesliga captain Manuel Neuer. He later commented on the tackle, stating, “I was told it wasn’t a particularly harsh foul, not one warranting a red card. I don’t know if it was excessively severe; it needs to be reviewed.” Fortunately, reports suggest Hakimi’s injury isn’t serious, according to Neuer’s teammates and staff.

Neuer also shared that Diaz was “disappointed” at halftime and had been “hoping for a team victory.” The German goalkeeper expressed frustration with referee Maurizio Mariani, saying, “That was a bit unnecessary in my opinion. He just informed me of his decision. He could have sent him off without pulling me out of the goal.” Joshua Kimmich added, “Lucho was a bit frustrated in that situation. He was annoyed about losing the ball. I saw it briefly on screen. He slipped while Hakimi tried to get in front of him, which is why he made the low tackle. But it’s really something.”

Support for Luis Diaz

The Bayern Munich management did not show sympathy for Hakimi’s injury. Sporting director Max Eberl remarked, “Luis Diaz was the first to enter the locker room and shook hands with every player. That illustrates team spirit perfectly. He knows he owes a lot to the team, and the team is also grateful for his two goals.” No mention was made of Hakimi or PSG. Vincent Kompany, who had protested Diaz’s expulsion from the sidelines, altered his tone post-match.

“It’s unfortunate that the PSG player had to leave the field injured. Initially, I didn’t think it was serious. But when a player gets hurt, I always think about what happened to Jamal Musiala (who was injured facing PSG and Donnarumma). He suffered a leg injury against PSG in the US. You start to wonder, ‘is this comparable?’ But honestly, the most important thing is that Hakimi isn’t out for too long. I wish him a speedy recovery.” Kompany slightly salvaged his club’s reputation, as some support emerged in France. On L’Equipe du Soir, Johan Micoud stated that Luis Diaz had no intent to harm. “It was a clumsy striker’s tackle; if Hakimi had gotten up, there wouldn’t have been a red card; he didn’t mean to injure him.” However, good or bad intentions matter little now, as Hakimi may miss 3 to 5 weeks of competition. Further examinations will clarify the situation soon.