Bayern Munich suddenly stopped winning games. The subscription champion crashes in fifth place in the Bundesliga. Because that happens so rarely, the experts fall on the club. Coach Julian Nagelsmann is the focus of criticism. The suspicion: he lost the cabin! Thomas Müller has an idea.
Four games without a win, only fifth place in the Bundesliga after seven matchdays, five points behind leaders Union Berlin, the longest winless phase in 20 years: FC Bayern Munich's unexpected crisis is a celebration for those who explain the world, those who understand everything and those who don't play. Coach Julian Nagelsmann is at the center of criticism from inside and outside. But Joshua Kimmich, Sadio Mané and the sports director Hasan Salihamidžić, who was so celebrated for his transfers in the summer, also get their fat off. It's the heyday of experts.
Markus Babbel, ex-European champion and former Bayern player, is one of them. He leads the ranks of critics. The 50-year-old demands an immediate return to the road to success and sees Nagelsmann as a duty. According to Babbel on Sky, he is "still a Bayern trainee", a "great coaching talent", but one who now has to "learn quickly" and "make a mark". A sign that should not stop at the really big names. "Then you have to put Kimmich on the bench," he demanded and attacked the international. He acts without discipline, "does gymnastics everywhere, just not where he should play" and gambles away his standing.
Steam talker Mario Basler, on the other hand, sees Sadio Mané as a duty. The world star, who landed in Munich with great applause, is in a mysterious form crisis. He doesn't score anymore. "It pisses me off how people attack Julian or the coaches. What can Julian do about it if Sané runs towards the goal three times and doesn't put him in? Julian is an excellent coach," Basler raged on Sport1 at the beginning of the week.
But it doesn't just stay with the usual hard-hitting experts who live from crises and whose opinions always have to polarize. The criticism also comes from within the team. It is still reserved and is brought forward from the back ranks of the hierarchy. But resentment is also spreading in the squad. it's fermenting
With 18.5 million euro new signing Ryan Gravenberch, for example. When asked by ESPN if he was dissatisfied with FC Bayern, he replied: "To be honest, yes, I am. You want to play, but the coach chooses other players. I have to accept that, but it's difficult . To be honest, I expected more minutes."
Things are brewing in the dressing room, which, according to a report by the not always trustworthy but always opinionated "Sport Bild", is slowly turning against the coach. You can read about a "breaking test" there. The expulsions of Carlo Ancelotti and Niko Kovac are remembered. With an "it's not that far yet" addition. But it's brewing. As the summary suggests. The mistake, it says there, is looking for the “most powerful cabin in the league” with Nagelsmann and not with himself.
It shouldn't just be about the fashion-conscious appearance of the 35-year-old, not just about his relationship with a "Bild" editor, as was already suggested on Monday in "Kicker", but also about tactical considerations, substitutions and rotation , which is said to have caused a "shake of the head" in the team circle. In addition to an efficiency crisis, the conversion of chances was only 10.5 percent recently, so there are squad problems and doubts about the trainer's leadership.
In addition to Gravenberch, national player Jamal Musiala is said to be among the dissatisfied. He also wants more playing time and also knows, as the "kicker" writes, that the powerful decision-maker Salihamidžić and technical director Marco Neppe are behind him. Salihamidžić himself is also under pressure. After Lewandowski's departure, he decided not to transfer a classic number nine and relied on winger Mané. Also because Bayern did not come to an agreement with Erling Haaland. In the midst of the renaissance of classic strikers, Bayern went the Bayern way. It's a bumpy start at the start. One that has currently led to a winless series that is almost unprecedented in this millennium.
To make matters worse, the corona infections of captain Manuel Neuer and Leon Goretzka are now added. In 2022, of course, this will all be far less dramatic than in the previous year. But there is a risk of prolonged downtime. Already next Friday it is against Bayer Leverkusen. Anything less than a win would only fuel the debate further. Every failure weighs heavily in this situation.
So the question remains: How can Bayern emerge stronger from this crisis, which can almost be described as historic? Ralf Rangnick advises sticking to the coach, giving him time and not getting involved in the debates that are being held with great joy. The man who once guided Nagelsmann to Leipzig sees Bayern on course. Unlike the ever-excited experts, he relies on patience. An almost lost quality in football.
"He proved last year and at the beginning of the season that he can not only lead the team, but also let them play exciting football," said Austria's national coach to the "Bild" newspaper: "After Robert's departure Lewandowski needs a bit of time." A different game system, different ways to score and a number of new players. Time doesn't seem such a bad idea.
Old hand Thomas Müller has a completely different idea. The national player recently clicked "Like" again on the LinkedIn social network. A motivational saying had done it to him. There, in a romantic picture with a sunset, it said: "Be so positive that negative people don't want to be around you." Life can be so easy. Now the results have to be right. Then the state crisis will be over quickly and Müller will meet much more positive people again.
(This article was first published on Thursday, September 22, 2022.)
