The FC Bayern basketball team celebrates an emotional comeback victory against Real Madrid. A EuroBasket hero returns for Munich – and immediately becomes crucial.
A statement win for FC Bayern against Real Madrid. Even without new top star Spencer Dinwiddie, Munich defeated the Royals 90-84 – also because one player was finally back: Johannes Voigtmann.
The World and European champion finally returned after his knee injury sustained during the EuroBasket and immediately had an incredibly significant impact on the team.
Johannes Voigtmann is one of FC Bayern’s key players
“I’ve said it recently. The return of Jo Voigtmann is at least as important as the signing of Spencer Dinwiddie,” emphasized head coach Gordon Herbert about his player’s significance.
Although Voigtmann scored only three points and five rebounds against Real Madrid at first glance, he exerted extreme influence on the game particularly through his presence. This is also shown by his three steals and the team’s best plus-minus value of plus 16 in nearly 14 minutes.
EuroLeague: Voigtmann creates highlights in comeback
In his first game in nearly two months, Herbert immediately placed his key player in the starting lineup. “That was naturally a huge show of trust, when you’ve been away for two months and get to start immediately after two months. I really appreciate that,” Voigtmann said happily.
And Voigtmann immediately repaid that trust. The big man, deployed as center against Real, set the tone right from the start. His first three-pointer after just a few seconds went in, including an emotional celebration scream.
Johannes Voigtmann celebrates his successful three-pointer
With the 33-year-old on the court, Bayern seemed transformed. FCBB suddenly played extremely fast again and with their style reminded people of last year’s team that thrilled fans and got them out of their seats.
Representative of this was also a scene in the early phase of the game. After successful free throws by Real Madrid, Voigtmann immediately took the ball out of the basket and then threw the game ball in his inimitable style, football-fashion, across the entire court to Vladimir Lucic rushing forward.
He found Andi Obst with another pass for an open three-pointer. After the score, the SAP Garden erupted with excitement.
“One of the best players I’ve ever coached”
But Voigtmann knew how to impress not only on the court – he also led off it. When he sat on the bench for a long time in the second half, he became an emotional motivator.
When disappointed Wenyen Gabriel slunk to the bench after being substituted, Voigtmann was immediately there, emotionally talking to the center, patting him on the shoulder and building him up.
“He’s incredibly important for us, especially with all the values he brings and lives by. He’s a leader, whether in the locker room or on the court,” Gordon Herbert therefore praised him after the game.
The Bayern coach became quite enthusiastic: “He’s definitely one of the best players I’ve ever coached, as a person and also as a player.”
Voigtmann honest: “It was a tough time”
Voigtmann himself smiled when asked about his coach’s praise after the game. “I of course accept that gladly, but I think the emotion of the victory was speaking through him a bit,” he said laughing.
“We’ve known each other for so long and he knows what he has in me. He knows that I push my teammates and also give energy when I’m not playing. We both know what we have in each other,” Voigtmann emphasized the good relationship with his head coach.
When asked how good it feels to be back after the long injury, he reacted emotionally: “It was a tough time. That was a process that wasn’t so simple for me. I’m also a bit older now and sometimes things just don’t go so well. That’s why I’m just super, super happy to be back now.”
“The last few days in training it actually wasn’t so good yet, but today was fortunately the first day where it went really well again. I’m just happy that it worked out like this.”
Not only the World and European champion is relieved to be back. At Bayern too, they’re glad that Johannes Voigtmann is back – and that with him, perhaps the team will also find its way back to the success track permanently.