FC Bayern has lost the second title of the season. Now only the championship remains. Turbulent weeks and months await the record champions.
FC Bayern missed the miracle and is out of the Champions League after beating Manchester City 1-1. But they didn’t lose the quarterfinals yesterday, they lost 3-0 in Manchester. It wasn’t impossible to turn things around in the second leg. But when you have chances like Leroy Sané did at the beginning of the game, you have to take them. Then you finally get the viewers behind you, who were fantastic and sent clear, important signals. But more on that later.
What happened in the end was what wasn’t supposed to happen. Bayern actually had a great psychological advantage when Erling Haaland missed a penalty, but then conceded a goal. This isn’t the first time that has happened after a blunder – or in this case, a slip – by Dayot Upamecano.
Such individual mistakes – like in the first leg by Jamal Musiala and Joshua Kimmich at 0: 1 and Upamecano at 0: 2 and Alphonso Davies at 0: 3 – you simply can’t allow yourself at this level. This also includes choosing the right footwear.
Bavaria is no longer among the top in Europe
After conceding a goal, you could see from the players’ body language that they were resigned and had come to terms with the third quarter-final in a row. Man City was a different opponent than Villarreal last year. The two strongest teams for me, City and Real Madrid, now meet in the semi-finals.
Bayern have to realize that they are no longer among the absolute best in Europe and that they now have to close this gap as quickly as possible. City was too high a hurdle, especially after the 0:3. Her lightness, her self-image, the Bayern gene and this total conviction – Bayern have lost all of that a bit.
Bavaria must surpass the 100 million mark
Your biggest construction site is obvious: Bayern needs a real nine up front. You have to dig deep into your pocket for that. But it must not fail under any circumstances, even if the transfer fee is very high and the 100 million mark has to be exceeded. They still have to and will sign a top striker.
When Hasan Salihamidžić counters and says that you have eight offensive players with the title world class, then that’s all well and good. But actually another construction site and maybe even a problem. Maybe eight offensive players are just too many. That always brings dissatisfaction and a topic for discussion, such as with Thomas Müller, who only came off the bench in both games against City.
And that dominant center forward that Bayern always had, which was part of the DNA and the system, is no longer there – Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is not enough. It must now be an absolute priority to reposition yourself there.
Tel reminds me of Santa Cruz
I’m a big fan of Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani. But one shouldn’t forget the 17-year-old Mathys Tel, who I really liked when he came on as a substitute. He reminds me of Roque Santa Cruz. He wasn’t really number nine either and came to Bayern when he was 17. We then took him by the hand and he developed further. Tel is perhaps the most talented attacker in Europe. He should get opportunities and more playing time. Then he can show what he’s really made of. That’s what he was bought for.
