Rummenigge: The outside world cannot control Bayern, youth training and stability are the way to success

Hupu reported on September 25 that he wrote history with Bayern Munich as a player and manager. On the occasion of his 70th birthday, Carl Heinz Rummeniger accepted an exclusive interview with the club member magazine "51", talking about Bayern's DNA, the value of debate culture, and the philosophy of fighting for an inch of land at the negotiating table.

The following is the second part:

You have shaped football not only as a player, but also as a manager.

"My first career as a player was the greatest feeling. People with talent were lucky: you can play football and score goals in front of 70,000 spectators, which is irreplaceable. The second career as a manager was much more demanding. I started as a vice president of Bayern in 1991, and I had to learn a lot. Fortunately, the club had solid leadership structures like Beckenbauer, Heness and Hopfner. I was able to grow and use my network of people who were mainly from Italy. One milestone was the founding of the European Club Association (ECA) with Platini. This was a game changer for European club football."

Have you seen football changed over time?

"I still look at football the same as before, and the same as when I was the chairman of the board. Overall, I think football is positive. But I noticed the general negative attitude - especially in Germany - that is always complaining. Whether Bayern or the national team, any decision will attract criticism. In the past, I would be angry about it, but now it is less, because it seems to be a feature of the times. I also felt on vacation this summer: there is almost no good news in the media, it is criticism, extremism and argument. I hope there will be more constructive coverage rather than just attacking it."

Who is your most intense struggle in the past - the media or the consultant?

"The so-called corporate consultants did not exist in my era. Bayern must always take the initiative. Bayern's heart is with those who are really responsible. The responsibility must be within the club, not the external consultants. Bayern has always solved the problem by himself: Beckenbauer, Heinez, Hopfner, me, now Heine and Dresen. If you firmly believe in an idea, you have to discuss it internally and then execute it. Even if you make a mistake, you have to take responsibility. Mistakes must be corrected, and even when facing public criticism, you have to bear it."

What about the player agent? Will the club become more and more passive in the transfer market?

"There is a beautiful word: 'no'. The initiative must be in the hands of the club. The club must not become a plaything for the agent. Sometimes you have to draw clear boundaries and clearly tell the players: No! So far, you will not give in even a square centimeter."

But this is not easy, right?

"Of course not. This is uncomfortable. But sometimes you have to do it. Set up signs and draw red lines. This is leadership, even if it is unpopular." Can Bayern still afford to say "no"? If you don't participate in the competition, it will be difficult to introduce top players.

"We cannot rely on anyone, whether it is an agent, the media or the so-called public opinion. Bayern has its own philosophy. We will never suddenly sign 45 players like Chelsea, with a huge salary, which we can neither afford nor want. This has never been Bayern's path, nor will it be in the future. A club's philosophy has no price tag - it is priceless. We must remain true and trustworthy. If left to the outside world, it will only be swallowed up in the end. Paris Saint-Germain is a positive example. They rebuilt decisively last season, turning from superstars to young geniuses. This requires courage and people who can execute to the end, even if they are criticized."

This also requires patience, whether it is team building or transfer.

"No doubt. We don't need to introduce five new players every year. In the past, we even introduced only one in one year, which is enough. At Bayern, we should rely on the youth training base. I clearly remember that when the base was completed, Henes said: 'This is our response to the crazy transfer market.' That's the truth. Of course, sometimes you will spend a lot of money to sign ups, which was there before. But we also trained Ram, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Alaba or Badstuber. In the long run, stability and continuity, coupled with the combination of youth training and top recruits, is the way to success."