SVEN ULREICH HAS apologised for the howler which cost Bayern Munich in their 4-3 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.
The 29-year-old lost his footing as he approached a routine back-pass from Corentin Tolisso shortly after the interval at the Santiago Bernabeu last night, gifting Karim Benzema the second of a decisive brace.
That gave Madrid a 2-1 lead in the second leg and, though James Rodriguez restored parity on the night, Bayern were unable to conjure up a third, which would have seen them through on away goals.
Ulreich, a first-team regular in Manuel Neuer’s injury-enforced absence, took to social media to express his sorrow.
“Words cannot describe how disappointed I am about leaving the Champions League,” the goalkeeper wrote Instagram. “We really wanted to reach the final, we did our best and then this unnecessary mistake happened to me. I cannot explain it. I’m sorry… for my team and for you fans.”
James, Javi Martinez and Jerome Boateng all responded to the post with messages of support for the former Stuttgart shot-stopper, who was described as having a “little blackout” by Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes.
They should have a WhatsApp group for keepers who make high profile, career souring errors where they can support each other. Rob Greene is the admin.
Have to feel sorry for him……
The description of the goal where you describe it as a routine back pass followed by a slip by the keeper is just wrong. It was a shocking backpass followed by a brain freeze by the keeper. Madness.
@John Cotter: yeah, can’t understand the amount of people including Slippy G referring to it as “losing his footing”.
It was a far more fundamental and silly mistake the keeper made than that.
Shocking goalkeeping but the backroads was a hospital ball and benzema nearly intercepted it before the keepers moment of madness
Brutal backpass compounded by keeper panic. It wasn’t entirely his fault.
Lewandowski the diver should be more ashamed of himself than the keeper.