Nicolas Kühn went through several academies as a boy, bouncing around from Hannover 96’s academy to the esteemed Ajax academy. His first steps in professional football, however, came at Bayern Munich. Joining Bayern II in the January of 2020, he was one of the winter reinforcements that helped lead the Bavarians’ U-23s from a midtable position in the 3. Liga to winning the title. Kühn left the club in 2022 and, around three years later, he suddenly stands before a reunion with the club via a clash in the Champions League.
Now at Scottish champions Celtic, Kühn professes his excitement at the draw: “I’m really happy with the draw and fully motivated. We’ve qualified for the knockout stage and now everything else is a bonus,” the winger said, via @iMiaSanMia. “But I want to show my best side, this is the biggest stage in world football. The atmosphere at Celtic Park is unbelievable. Bayern players have already experienced a lot, but this will top everything. The volume in the stadium, the enthusiasm. It’s just incredible. It was already a new level in our previous Champions League games. Now it will hopefully be surpassed again.”
Kühn draws hope, but no certainties from Bayern’s poor away form in the Champions League, which has seen the Bavarians lose three of their four away games: “We definitely want to take something at home, even though we won’t underestimate Bayern because of this stat. The knockout stage is different to the league phase,” he explained, via @iMiaSanMia. We have quick players who can use the space behind their high line: Adam Idah, for example. Daizen Maeda, who is unfortunately suspended for the first leg, Jota or myself. We want to hurt Bayern with a compact style and quick counters. We know that Bayern are vulnerable and we have the personnel to cause them problems. Our goal has to be to quickly switch behind their backline after winning the ball and use our pace. I think we have this killer instinct.”
The match sees Kühn reunite with former Bayern II teammates Jamal Musiala and Josip Stanišić, who both lifted the 3. Liga title alongside the former U20 Germany international. And look at them now, important members of Champions League clubs. How far they have come. What a brilliant story this is.
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