Munich: Bayern Munich's dramatic downfall in the Champions League final is unlikely to have a long-term influence on Germany's biggest club, although it could have a negative impact on Germany's hopes of winning the upcoming European Championship.
Bayern's young squad was good enough to eliminate Real Madrid in the semi-finals and largely dominate Chelsea on Saturday before losing on penalties. Time will eventually heal those wounds.
But more immediately, eight frustrated and tired Bayern players, who were left empty-handed in three competitions in a demanding season, will need a mental lift before the month-long European Championship starts in Poland and Ukraine on June 8.
"You can't expect them to show up here, drink a cup of magic potion and then everything is good," Germany national team director Oliver Bierhoff told reporters on Sunday in the squad's training camp in southern France.
"It's a process. Clearly, there is a huge void after such a game. Had they won, they would have come here full of confidence. But they can still win a title," Bierhoff said. "A change of scenery will do them good and we will receive them with open arms."
Germany have not won a title since Bierhoff's 'golden goal' in the 1996 European Championship final. The Bayern group will not join the squad until Friday, and most are not expected to play in a friendly against Switzerland a day later.
Back home, Bayern officials will be pondering what went wrong.
"I think this is even worse, more brutal than the 1999 loss to Manchester United," said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
In that final, United came back with a pair of goals in stoppage time to win 2-1.
Bayern's sporting director Christian Nerlinger said Saturday's loss at their own stadium "is not something you can put behind in one night. "It's a defeat that will follow us because we missed a historic chance," Nerlinger said.
Captain Philipp Lahm, speaking at a post-match banquet that was planned as a celebration party but instead only prolonged the misery, said the team will bounce back.
"We are all still in a very good age. And we are even hungrier now," said Lahm and recalled what former goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn had said after the 1999 defeat in Barcelona, "Keep going, always keep going."
Bayern have now gone two seasons without winning anything. In the Bundesliga, they lost twice to Borussia Dortmund, who won the title for the second consecutive year. In the German Cup final, Dortmund dumped Bayern 5-2.
Some players will leave, some will arrive. Bayern have enough money to bring in some reinforcements, much of it thanks to their Champions League progress.
But some of the brightest prospects at home are beginning to look elsewhere — Marco Reus, one of the country's biggest talents, chose Dortmund as the next step in his career.
Bayern may also reconsider the role of coach Jupp Heynckes, who still has one year on his contract. The 67-year-old coach restored calm badly needed after the turbulent tenure of Louis van Gaal, but the team often seemed to lack passion and a killer instinct. Bayern often dominated opponents without managing to translate it into victories.
"I saw things on the field that I did not like," Bayern president Uli Hoeness said.
Bayern had 20 corners against Chelsea, while the London club had one — and Didier Drogba scored from it for a late equalizer that sent the final into extra-time. Bayern outshot Chelsea 35-9 and led 3-1 in the shoot-out — "And we still didn't win. That's incredible."
"I cannot accept being second all the time," Hoeness said.
Bayern may also re-examine the role of Arjen Robben, who fluffed a penalty early in extra-time. He did the same in the decisive Bundesliga match against Dortmund, but converted one against Real Madrid. He was not selected for the shoot-out.
Robben's game has become predictable. He wants the ball and when he gets it on the right wing, Robben cuts inside and tries to shoot. But the defenders have learned how to cope with the Dutch star and his effectiveness has become limited.
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