Bayern boss treads fine line

Louis van Gaal’s future as Bayern Munich coach is in doubt after the team exited the DFB Pokal Cup and lost to Hannover in the Bundesliga.

Bayern’s slim hopes of finishing second and securing automatic qualification for the Champions League have faded following successive defeats to Borussia Dortmund and Hannover.

The team also surrendered their DFB Pokal Cup title with a 1-0 semi-final loss at home to Schalke on Wednesday.

“This is the absolute low point of the season,” club chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat in Hannover.

“We’ve just had eight catastrophic days.”

“We came here to win but the way we lost today was just so painful.”

“We are all bitterly disappointed but we have been around long enough to take a night digesting it.”

“I do not think anyone will sleep tonight. We are in a situation where everyone at Bayern Munich is very concerned.”

Dutch coach Van Gaal won the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal Cup in his first season with Bayern last year.

He also guided the team to the Champions League final, where they lost to Inter Milan.

But with Borussia Dortmund almost certain to capture the Bundesliga, the Champions League is now the only competition that Bayern retain a slim chance of winning.

Even Van Gaal himself admits he is now in an unenviable position at the Allianz Arena.

“That is up to those in charge,” he said when questioned about whether recent results might have earned him the sack.

“I continue with my work but obviously after the third straight loss it becomes tricky.”