Bayern youngster Tel reminisces on ´wild´ maiden Champions League goal

Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel said scoring his first Champions League goal was “wild”, as he reflected on an “incredible and unforgettable moment”.

The 18-year-old joined the Bundesliga giants from Rennes in July 2022, after making just 10 competitive appearances for the French club’s first team, and quickly wrote his name into Bayern’s history books.

He became their youngest-ever goalscorer when he netted in a 5-0 win over Viktoria Cologne in the DFB-Pokal at the age of 17 years and 126 days.

Tel followed that up by marking his Bundesliga debut with a goal in a 2-2 draw with Stuttgart less than two weeks later, claiming the record of Bayern’s youngest scorer in the competition.

This season, he has continued the theme of getting big goals to commemorate special occasions, and the youngster reflected on his memorable impact in the Champions League by scoring what turned out to be the winner in a thrilling 4-3 victory over Manchester United in Bayern’s group-stage opener.

Tel told FedEx’s Outside the Box: “The coach called me over, ‘Mathys, it’s time for you to go on’.

“I’m in my own bubble, I focus on getting out onto the pitch. I get ready to make a difference for my team.

MATHYS TEL. WHAT A FINISH

#FCBMUN 4-2 (90’+2) pic.twitter.com/B6wbJRigDg

— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) September 20, 2023

“The game against Manchester United, it was quite a different atmosphere, because it’s the biggest competition, the best players in the world, the biggest teams in the world. The mental preparation was really important for me.

“I came on as a left winger and then the game started. Everything went so fast. That’s when my head exploded. The stadium went wild. Everybody went wild. It was an incredible and unforgettable moment.”

That goal is one of seven that Tel has scored this season, already beating his tally of six from his debut campaign, and his style has drawn comparisons to fellow Frenchman, Kylian Mbappe.

However, Tel’s focus is on his own game, and not comparisons to others.

“I’ve achieved quite a lot but today, I want more, I want to keep going. I still have a lot to learn. So, I come onto the pitch with a great deal of desire and ambition,” said Tel.

“What I’m working on in training is my movement through different zones to be able to score goals. I have my own way of playing. I run fast, I try to create chances, I try to score a lot.”

After a season and a half in Munich, in which he won the Bundesliga last term, Tel has already cemented himself into the team, and chosen to extend his time there, signing a new long-term contract that will see him stay at the club until 2029.

Tel added: “The FC Bayern transfer was an incredible time for me. My hard work had paid off.

“This is what makes me such an ambitious player today. I was immediately welcomed like a new member of the family. I wasn’t sidelined.

“All the players came to me; they helped me and included me straight away. They would tell me: ‘If you need anything, you can come find me'”.

Mathys Tel featured in episode one of FedEx’s ‘Outside the Box’ content series. To watch the full episode, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXXrG24OQEY