PARIS, April 29 (Xinhua) — Bayern Munich still believe they can reach the UEFA Champions League final after a dramatic 5-4 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal first leg, chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen said.
Speaking at a late-night team function in Paris, Dreesen recalled the tension of the match, in which Bayern trailed 5-2 before mounting a late fightback.
“If you are down 2-5, you are initially dead. You sit in the stands and think: Oh dear, how is this going to end?” he said. “But what happened after that was historic and unique.”
Dreesen praised the team’s resilience, saying the comeback had kept Bayern’s hopes alive ahead of the second leg in Munich on May 6.
“Once again, we have seen that this team has character. We have passed the next mental test,” the 58-year-old said.
“They showed courage, determination and unwavering self-confidence to fight back.”
He also pointed to recent comebacks against Real Madrid in the quarterfinals and Mainz in the Bundesliga as evidence of the team’s mentality.
Head coach Vincent Kompany, who watched the match from the stands due to a suspension, told players in the dressing room he was proud of their performance.
“The coach praised our energy and said he is positive about the game in Munich,” midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic said.
Germany international Joshua Kimmich said there was a strong sense of belief within the squad.
“Everyone has the certainty that we can beat PSG next week. You could feel the confidence in the locker room,” he said.
Board member Max Eberl highlighted a key moment when PSG fans began celebrating prematurely at the Parc des Princes.
“It felt as if they had already made it to the final,” Eberl said. “Our response was remarkable. It feels like a small victory, and now there is great anticipation for the game in Munich.”
In a television interview, Kompany called for strong home support in the return leg.
“I hope everyone is ready for something special, starting right from the warm-up,” he said. “We need 75,000 fully fit supporters pushing us.”
Despite conceding five goals in Paris, Kompany kept his message simple.
“All we have to do is to win the game, no matter how many goals we have to score,” he said.
Dreesen ended his remarks by expressing confidence that Bayern would reach the final in Budapest on May 30. ■
