Bayern Munich players celebrate with the trophy after their win. (Bayern Munich Twitter)
Doha - Bayern are the second side to win all six available titles within a year after Barcelona managed the feat in 2009
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski hailed the team's sixth title in a year following the Club World Cup final win in Qatar as one of the biggest achievements in football. Benjamin Pavard’s second-half winner sealed a 1-0 victory for Bayern over Mexico’s Tigres as the Germans giants claimed a “six pack” of titles within 12 months.
This is the eighth year in a row that the Champions League winners have gone on to win the Club World Cup, as Bayern follow in the footsteps of last year’s champions Liverpool.
Bayern are the second side to win all six available titles within a year after Barcelona managed the feat in 2009.
Hansi Flick’s men had already won the Champions League, Bundesliga, German Cup, Uefa Super Cup and German Super Cup last season.
“It feels good to have the six pack — six titles in a row is something very special for us,” said Lewandowski, who helped set up Pavard’s goal.
“I think this is one of the biggest achievements in football, how we played will be remembered for a long time.”
Since Flick took charge of Bayern in November 2019, the European champions have lost just five games, giving him more titles than defeats as boss.
“I hope there won’t be any defeats in the near future and there will be more victories than defeats,” said Flick.
“In terms of the title, this was a statement. It’s amazing what the team was able to do.
“It was really impressive how everyone played.”
Defeat meant heartbreak for Tigres, the first Mexican side to reach the Club World Cup final as CONCACAF champions.
Thomas Mueller dropped out after being quarantined having tested positive for Covid-19, while defender Jerome Boateng flew back to Germany for “personal reasons” amid reports his former girlfriend was found dead in Berlin.
“Thomas feels good, he has no symptoms,” said Lewandowski.
“It was bad news (that) he tested positive for Covid, but we knew we had to not think about the situation and win for Thomas.”
Flick will give his squad two days off when they get back to Germany before Bayern’s next Bundesliga game against strugglers Arminia Bielefeld on Monday.