21 September 2023 , 07:11
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Bayern Munich were comfortably the better side in their rather bizarre 4-3 win at home to Manchester United - but their stars didn't even think they played that well.
United were beaten for the third game in a row thanks to goals from Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, Harry Kane and Mathys Tel, although multiple Bayern players were self-critical of their dominant performance in their Champions League group stage opener. Allowing the rudderless Red Devils to respond three times which saw them cut the deficit to just one goal on each occasion, Casemiro's brace and a first United goal for Rasmus Hojlund meant the scoreline wasn't as humiliating as it could well've been for Erik ten Hag's men.
Post-match, Bayern winger and opening scorer Sane made it clear that his side - who hit the post twice and missed a slew of clear-cut chances - should be raising their standards. "We were good going forward, but have to stop making so many mistakes," the ex- Manchester City ace stated.
"There was just too much of that. It was definitely a spectacle for the fans, but we needed to calm the game down and do better on the counter-attack. We were 2-0 up. That's when we have to take control of the game, especially when we win back the ball; then we have to find the right man."
Star striker Kane then spoke to TNT Sports and was in agreement with his team-mate, saying: "I think a bit crazy, to be honest. For the majority of the game we controlled it. We went 3-1 ahead and just lost a bit of concentration in the last five minutes. Thankfully we were able to hold on to the lead. Overall, a really good start to the campaign against a tough side in Man United."
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Manager Thomas Tuchel echoed Sane and Kane's thoughts by acknowledging the need for improvement. "It was important for our self-belief and development, but there are still things we need to improve," Tuchel declared.
"We made a very cautious start. The goals helped us find our flow and our confidence levels grew. It's a bit contradictory. I thought we played a lot better in the second half compared to the first, yet we lost the second and won the first. The reaction to the goals we conceded was very good and important."
Bayern Munich dominated Manchester United for much of the evening (Christina Pahnke - sampics/Getty Images)Have your say! Will Manchester United qualify for the knockout stages? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
Konrad Laimer agreed and noted: "It was a wild game. There were phases when we could have controlled the game better. We had chances to make the win safe, but we let the opposition back into it. The important thing is starting with three points.
"We know we can and have to improve. If we win in the end, it's good."
Bayern's reflection of their own performance speaks volumes about how poor United were, as Ten Hag rued the hosts' opening two goals which gave them a strong advantage at half-time.
"We're obviously disappointed," the Red Devils boss confessed. "When you score three goals in Munich, you have to come away with something - but we didn't do that. We were the better team in the first 25 minutes, but then conceded two silly goals."
Defender Victor Lindelof also bemoaned: "We started the game well. Mistakes are part of the game. It's definitely not the result we wanted.
"We tried everything and scored three goals, but it wasn't enough. Bayern are a good team with good players."