Bayern Munich CEO Dreesen enjoys praise from Pep Guardiola and Thierry Henry, but knows ‘praise won’t get us to Budapest’

TL;DR

Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen received praise from Pep Guardiola and Thierry Henry after a thrilling 4-5 loss to PSG in the Champions League semifinals. However, he emphasized that such accolades won't help the team reach the final in Budapest.

Key points

Bayern Munich lost 4-5 to PSG in the Champions League semifinals
The match featured a record nine goals scored
Jan-Christian Dreesen emphasized focus on reaching the final in Budapest

Mentioned in this story

Bayern MunichParis Saint GermainJan-Christian DreesenPep GuardiolaThierry Henry

Paris Saint Germain's Qatari president Nasser al-Khelaifi speaks with Bayern Munich's German CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen (R) ahead of the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes in Paris on April 28, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Bayern Munich’s 4-5 loss to Paris Saint Germain in the first of the Champions League semifinals was an incredible match. It was the first time 9 goals were scored in a single match in the semifinals of Europe’s most elite competition and it could have been much more, with both sides’ forwards putting on fantastic performances. These elite attacking performances with the world watching drew spoken praise from many of the biggest names in football, from Bundesliga coaches to the likes of former Bayern boss Josep Guardiola. It is this praise that Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen was asked about in the days before the second leg against PSG, with the club’s former CFO responding that, while it is nice, the praise should not and will not distract from the Bavarians’ big target: “There were really a lot of superlatives. Coaches, experts and legends from all over the world, from Pep Guardiola to Thierry Henry, have been hailing the match. Peter Schmeichel said on *CBS* that he’d never seen a better one,“ Dreesen elaborated, as captured by Bayern’s official website. “It was a historic evening because never before have so many goals been scored in a Champions League semi-final. And we had the privilege of being there in the stadium. But praise won’t get us to Budapest [location of the final of the Champions League]. We want to reach the final, and to do that we need to thrill the football world once again against this immensely strong Paris side.” It is important the players share the same mentality, but one doubts they would have gotten as far as they already have if such praise throws them off their game. *If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on , , , or any leading podcast distributor…*

Q&A

What did Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen say about the praise received after the PSG match?

Dreesen acknowledged the praise from football legends but stressed that it won't distract the team from their goal of reaching the Champions League final.

How significant was the Bayern Munich vs PSG match in Champions League history?

The match was historic as it marked the first time nine goals were scored in a single Champions League semifinal.

What is Bayern Munich's next challenge after the PSG match?

Bayern Munich's next challenge is the second leg against PSG, where they aim to secure a spot in the Champions League final in Budapest.