Bundesliga
Bayern Munich: Great Season or Bust?
With Bayern having up to 11 players at World Cup this summer, a new coach in place and a quiet transfer window. It is going to be a season of intriguing and thought-provoking football at Allianz Arena.
Transfers:
There have been just two arrivals at Sabener Strasse in Munich, all of which were known before the end of the 2017-18 season. Leon Goretzka arrives from Schalke, with the move having been agreed in January. Additionally, Serge Gnabry returns from loan after a season at Hoffenheim. Nevertheless, Jerome Boateng angled for a move with consistent links to the likes of Manchester United and PSG. Arturo Vidal left Bayern to join Barcelona and Sebastian Rudy looks set to leave after new boss Niko Kovac claiming a bloated squad with too many midfielders. The Bavarians have decided to save their money this summer in the hope of making a marquee signing next year.
World Cup Trauma:
Aside from the lack of signings, this summer’s world cup was one to forget for the Munich side. A German side largely made up off Bayern players exited at the group stages. Star striker Lewandowski’s performances were appalling for Polland to say the least. And there is also the matter of him wanting to leave the club. He claims “he didn’t feel the club chiefs protected him enough” when he came under criticism at the back end of the season following their champions league exit at the hands of Real Madrid.
Many of Bayern’s players didn’t even appear at the World Cup. Rafinha, Kingsley Coman, Renato Sanches and Javi Martinez were not part of their country’s final squads. Additionally, David Alaba’s Austria failed to qualify. Thiago Alcantara played a bit part role for Spain and Corentin Tolisso played only 17 minutes of the final. The likes of Ribery and Robben have retired from international football.
Club Chiefs:
Bigger than any of the departure stories was the criticism club chief Uli Hoeness has been handing out to Mesut Ozil. The Bayern Boss was very vocal about the fact that he disagrees with Ozil’s claim for retiring from the National team is Racism instead, saying that it was an excuse to hide from his poor performances for the national side. All this talk from the club president only proves to the fact that Bayern has not done anything to improve on last year’s Champions league Semi-final appearance with them last winning the competition in 2013.
Coach:
The arrival of new coach Niko Kovac was with mix reception. He won the DFB Pokal with Eintracht Frankfurt beating Bayern in the Finals. He was also the coach for the Croatian National team that went to the Euros in 2016. Kovac comes in with big expectations following the departure of Club Legend Jupp Heynckes after he took over as caretaker manager following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti. But the squad have praised him and his ideas with the team looking united and strong ahead of the season with a good pre-season behind them.
League:
Bayern won the Bundesliga last season by 21 points and should take the title again this year, but probably not as comfortably due to Borussia Dortmund strengthening by spending well in the transfer market and appointing the experienced Lucien Favre as coach. It would be Bayern’s seventh league title in a row, something which is now taken as a given by the club’s fans.
Champions League:
Bayern are not considered as favorites for the Champions League this term with the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona, Liverpool, PSG and Juventus all ahead in the line. Having had complete dominance over the league for the last six seasons, It would be Bayern’s seventh league title in a row, something which is now taken as a given by the club’s fans, they demand the club compete for the treble every year, having tasted it in 2012-13 under Heynckes.
Chances of a Treble?
The club will mostly dominate in the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal. A Champions league crown is looking unlikely. Bayern’s new coach has been quick to play down thoughts of a clean sweep in 2018-19.
“You are mentioning the word ‘treble’,” he said. “But I want you to do some research on how many teams in history have managed to win the treble. However, I think this word is always mentioned too quickly.
“I want you to do some research. I already did. And if you do that, we will both say: That is insanely difficult.”
It is more difficult than ever to win the Champions League Crown with up to 8 superclubs competing for the crown of Europe’s best. So while all other clubs went out and strengthened their respective squads Bayern just sat there.
What the new season holds for Bayern only time will tell, but it’s not looking great from the offset for them on the continental stage.
