Daley Blind has in a major interview with The Athletic looks back on his six months at Bayern Munich. The 33-year-old defender hardly got time to play in Germany, but nevertheless looks back on an educational time. Blind also discusses his abrupt departure from Ajax and his surprising transfer to Girona this summer. “Girona wanted me before I went to Bayern.”
Blind had his contract terminated with Ajax at the end of last year due to the tense relationship with Alfred Schreuder. The 103-time Dutch international is still disappointed that the board chose Schreuder’s side at the time. “There were some problems between Schreuder and me. The board supported him and decided that I had to leave. For me it is not about choosing sides, but about fair competition in the team and treating each other with respect. If there are problems, you look each other in the eye, talk and get over it together. It hurts that this didn’t happen,” says Blind.
After his contract was terminated, Blind left for Bavaria. Although he became champion, he only played 157 minutes in six months. Nevertheless, Blind looks back positively on his time in Germany. “I enjoyed Munich not as a player, but as a football fan. I learned from Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller how they trained and from Julian Nagelsmann how he coached. I tried to learn from them instead of complaining because I wasn’t playing.”
At Girona, Blind is higher in the pecking order. The left foot has started in six of the seven games played so far. “Girona wanted me before I went to Bayern. Before that there was also Antwerp and some other clubs. I came here to see the city, the coast, the country and the club. My wife and children like it here. Girona is not one of the biggest clubs in the world, but they were position, want to grow and I was excited when I talked to the manager about the playing style and the club. So far I have no regrets and the good start has helped,” said Blind .
Championship candidate?
Girona and Blind are experiencing a great start to the season. After seven league games, the Blanquivermells top of the LaLiga rankings with nineteen points (six wins, one draw). In addition to Blind, ex-PSV player Sávio also played a major role in this. The Brazilian wing attacker, who was loaned to Eindhoven from Troyes last season, has already scored two goals and four assists in LaLiga this season.