Bastian Schweinsteiger kept to his word of giving manager Louis Van Gaal a beer shower after the German giants clinched their 22nd league championship. A real comedy of errors from the Dutch tactician who tried to elude his players by running behind the goal as they soaked him in litres of vintage German ale following their 3-1 victory over Hertha Berlin.
A real fitting climax to Munich’s season who have had a wonderful campaign. It’s a real testament to Van Gaal who has transformed his side into a real top quality side who are efficient and resolute. It is an unbelievable turn around for the 58 year old who seemed to be facing the axe earlier on the campaign after his side suffered their worst start to the Bundesliga in 43 years after picking up just two points in their first three games.
A 4-1 victory in Turin against Juventus before the turn of the year reinvigorated The Reds who are now on the verge of becoming the first German club to clinch the treble.
Prior to the game in Berlin it was already a formality for the Munich outfit that they were champions as a three point lead over second placed Schalke and a far more inferior goal difference had more or less guaranteed another success for the German giants. They cruised to 3-1 victory over already relegated Berlin after a double goal salvo from Dutch maestro Arjen Robben saw the “Salad Dish” head to the Allianz Arena for a 22nd time.
Ivica Olic opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Berlin equalized on the hour mark. Robben, who has been a revelation for his new club following his arrival from Real Madrid last summer, scored a beautiful goal in the 74th minute from just outside the box as he latched onto a wonderfully weighted ball from Thomas Muller which set the Dutchman on his way to run at the Berlin defense before applying the finish in the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Robben rounded of the scoring three minutes from time as Bayern clinch their first league title since 2008.
Louis Van Gaal must take a large amount of credit for his team’s success. His nineteen year managerial career began at Ajax where in four years he lead a star studded side with the likes of Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert and the De Boer brothers to become the kings of Europe as they won the Champions League in 1995.
He has since clinched titles in Spain and in his homeland but now Munich may start to endure the Van Gaal era as club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge earlier stated. With a German cup and the Champions League final all to come, Bayern Munich are back where they deserve, at the forefront of the European game.
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
