Bayern count cost of Ribery absence

OPINIONS varied in the Bayern Munich camp over how critical the absence of winger Franck Ribery was to their 2-0 Champions League final defeat to Inter Milan on Saturday night.

Ribery, who yesterday signed a five-year contract extension with the German giants, has been a key player for Bayern over the last few seasons but he was unavailable for Saturday night’s match at the Bernabeu stadium due to suspension.

Without the France international, Bayern slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Inter to end their hopes of claiming an historic treble having already won their domestic league and cup.

It is impossible to tell how things might have gone in the Spanish capital if the much-vaunted Ribery had been available, but for Bayern honorary president Franz Beckenbauer the Frenchman’s absence was key.

“We would never have lost with Ribery,” the Bayern club legend claimed.

“We missed him on every corner and at the end of everything. It would have been a different game with him.’’

However, Bayern coach Louis van Gaal had a different view on matters.

While he admitted they had missed the Frenchman’s magic, he pointed his side have won without the winger plenty of times before.

“It is always rather simple to say after a defeat that Ribery was missing. We played against Lyon, against Juventus and half the season without him,” said van Gaal, whose side were beaten by goals in either half by impressive Inter striker Diego Milito.

“I think that is a lack of respect for my other players. (Hamit) Altintop did his job well. We could have won this game anyway. Milito made the difference. Of course Ribery is a creative player and we need a creative player to play our style, but we have been successful without him.”

The absence of Ribery looked like being something Bayern would have to deal with on a permanent basis following this season as, for much of the last 12 months, the 27-year-old has been widely tipped to leave the Bavarian club. The likes of European giants Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United were all linked with big-money moves for the flying Frenchman, whose contract was due to run out next year.

However, Ribery has put an end to speculation about his future by committing himself to Bayern, putting pen to paper on a new deal which ties him to the Bundesliga champions until June 30, 2015.

“I am very happy to have decided to stay with FC Bayern,” said Ribery, who joined the club from Marseille in a €25 million deal in 2007.

“My family and I are very happy to be staying in Munich. This club has become a big family for me.”

Bayern may not have been able to break down Inter’s water-tight defence on Saturday night but van Gaal, who has led Bayern to the domestic double in his first season in the hot-seat, defended his tactics and commitment to playing attacking football.

“Every team can choose to play the way they want. But my choice, and that of the Bayern Munich board, otherwise they wouldn’t have given me the job, (is to attack),” said the Dutchman, who could have become only the third coach in history to win the European Cups with two different clubs having also lifted it with Ajax in 1995.

“If (Thomas) Muller had scored at the start of the second half it could have been a different game. We need to score goals at the right time, and a little bit of luck also comes into that.

“These are the small thing which settle it. Nevertheless, it’s been a great season.’’

Muller admitted he “wasn’t feeling great” after his tame miss at the start of the second half.

Bayern had produced little to worry Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar before the break, but they created a great opening inside 30 seconds of the re-start when Olic and Altintop combined to set up the unmarked Muller on the edge of the box.

However, the 20-year-old was unable to make the most of the opening as Cesar saved his shot with his legs.

The miss would prove costly as Milito, who had given Inter a first half lead after combining with Wesley Sneijder, wrapped up Inter’s win with his second goal in the 70th minute.

Muller said: “The missed chance in the 46th minute was a bitter moment for me. It’s another reason why I’m not feeling great just now.”

Matchwinner Milito hailed coach Jose Mourinho as the mastermind behind Inter’s triumph.

“Mourinho deserves this the most. He is great coach and he deserves all of the credit for this success,” he said.

“What I feel now is a joy I have never felt before, an incredible joy. I am so happy for Inter because we have been waiting for so long and we deserved this trophy.”

Subs for Bayern Munich: Klose for Altintop 63, Gomez for Olic 74.

Subs for Inter Milan: Stankovic for Chivu 68, Muntari for Pandev 79, Materazzi for Milito 90.