Kovac's cousin for the Champions … eight months after his goodbye

Niko Kovac was delighted twice when Bayern defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the last Champions League final. This is how he acknowledges it in an interview in Sportbild where he confesses to having received a premium from Bayern for the achievement of the European championship. The Croatian coached Bayern until November 2, 2019, giving him time to participate in the first half of the group stage that resulted in three victories: 3-0 against Red Star, 2-3 against Olympiacos and a historic 2-7 against Tottenham.

Thus, after a brief participation with three victories that put Bayern on track at the start of this competition, he has finished with some of the prize in his pocket. “Yes, I received a bonus for the Champions League. I supported Bayern in the final and it was not because of the money, it was because of the good relationship I have with the club's people. I would have loved to be there, sure, but Hansi and the guys did a great job. I was very happy for them. I'm not the type of person who expects someone to do badly after I leave. I have congratulated everyone from the bottom of my heart, “he said in the German newspaper.

Comparisons are inevitable. Kovac assumes them naturally and without jealousy for the successes of Hansi Flick. That the German is now on the bench, he assures, was his idea and that is how he transmitted it to the club's leadership. “Comparisons are inevitable. Hansi has done an incredible job. The way the team played bore his stamp. Very few coaches get a treble, perhaps on the Playstation. I'm not jealous, “he explains.

“Hansi Flick was my idea. I went with this idea to my brother Robert and Uli Hoeness. Uli thought the same as I did and we quickly reached an agreement. We both thought of Hansi for the position,” says the now Monaco coach about the signing of Flick for his coaching staff.

A good start

After two rounds of Ligue 1, Nico Kovac's Monaco is in third place, three a draw at 2 against Reims and a victory by the minimum against Metz. This Sunday the 13th they will play the third match against Nantes at home from 5:00 p.m.