Bayern Munich's team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt (L) treats Jerome Boateng during their German Bundesliga first division soccer match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Munich, Nov. 10, 2012. — Reuters
BERLIN — Bayern Munich Friday “regretfully” accepted the surprise departure of long-time team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt, who said the medical department was blamed for the 3-1 Champions League loss to Porto this week. Mueller-Wohlfahrt, a respected doctor, had been in charge since 1977 and has also treated many other top global athletes, including sprinter Usain Bolt while also being the German national soccer team doctor. “After the Champions League game at Porto for unexplained reasons it was the medical department that was chiefly blamed for the defeat,” Mueller-Wohlfahrt said in a late night statement Thursday. He said “the relationship of trust has been permanently damaged.” Bayern made a brief statement on his departure prior to their weekly news conference with coach Pep Guardiola, saying they “regretfully took note” of his decision. “Especially Dr. Mueller-Wohlfahrt, but also his team, have in the past years offered the club and its players first rate work. For that we are expressly thankful,” the club said in a statement. Bayern has been struggling with injuries in recent weeks with Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Medhi Benatia and David Alaba all missing in their loss to the Portuguese team Wednesday. The ties with Guardiola, who took over in 2014, were tense from the first season with midfielder Thiago Alcantara being sent for treatment to Barcelona by the Spanish coach without consulting the team doctor. The most recent incident was involving Ribery. The player was initially ruled out for a few days with an injury but the winger has already missed the last five weeks. “It was his decision to leave,” Guardiola told reporters. “I respect his decision. That is all.” Bayern officials prevented Guardiola from taking more questions on the doctor's departure. The 72-year-old Mueller-Wohlfahrt's resignation comes at a crucial time for Bayern, which is chasing a treble of titles, entering the crucial phase of the season. The Spanish coach wanted to have a doctor present all the time at the team's training ground to prevent long commutes for injured players to Mueller-Wohlfahrt's downtown practice. Bayern accepted the demand and employed Mueller-Wohlfahrt's son. Mueller-Wohlfahrt also quit the post during Juergen Klinsmann's 10-month tenure as Bayern coach during the 2008-09 season, only to return the day after Klinsmann's firing. — Agencies Bayern, which is 10 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, faces Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup last four and has to overturn the 3-1 deficit against Porto in the return leg in Munich next week. – Reuters
