Bayern Munich are recognised for conducting transfer organization as quietly as doable – this summer season was diverse.
Robert Lewandowski, who had played 8 several years for the club, engaged in a general public fight with Bayern’s administration and directors, seeking to drive his way out.
Following months of denying any intentions to sell the Poland striker, the German giants gave the eco-friendly light-weight for Lewandowski’s transfer to Barcelona.
Their reluctance appeared justified, specified that Lewandowski had been a lifestyle insurance for Bayern for pretty some time. The expectation was that the reduction of such a prolific goalscorer would diminish the Bundesliga champions’ attacking power significantly – right until Bayern played their 1st competitive match of the new season.
They met RB Leipzig in the domestic Tremendous Cup sport in July. Leipzig, who on paper have a person of the strongest squads in the Bundesliga, were obliterated in their possess stadium in the first 50 %. Bayern led the match 3- and showcased a new model.
Without Lewandowski, their assault looked much more unpredictable than ever as manager Julian Nagelsmann returned to the rapidly-paced football he built his title for at TSG Hoffenheim.
He selected a 4-2-2-2 development, offering up on the concept of focusing on a single target striker. The slim formation lets them to enjoy vertical passes amongst four pairs: the centre halves, the centre midfielders, the attacking midfielders and the strikers.
Bayern commence their Champions League marketing campaign at Inter Milan on Wednesday sitting down just 3rd in the Bundesliga but can they even now combine it with the elite in the absence of Lewandowski?
Mane and Musiala thrive
Although Nagelsmann should really be applauded for coming up with a program that would negate the requirement of a Lewandowski-like target person, he would not have a great deal good results without the need of the technical precision and psychological quickness of his crucial gamers.
In light of the unavoidable Lewandowski departure, Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic entered the transfer market to purchase two new critical figures in Sadio Mane and Mathijs de Ligt.
In addition, the two Ajax graduates Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui ended up signed in the early days of the summer, even though 17-12 months-outdated forward prospect Mathys Tel moved from Stade Rennes to Munich late in the transfer window.
Salihamdzic was also in a position to thoroughly clean up the squad, marketing players this sort of as Marc Roca and Omar Richards who experienced no potential at Bayern.
What remains is a group of 23 gamers that glimpse more robust than when Lewandowski was continue to all over. Mane was expected to take the Pole’s spot in the line-up, and to an extent he has. But Mane is not a common goal gentleman, even if he is ready to participate in the central purpose in a ahead line.
Nagelsmann counts on the Senegal forward’s positional understanding and his ability to drift involving the lines, as he is used in his two-man assault. The former Liverpool participant has scored five goals in seven game titles so considerably this season. He wanted no time to acclimatise in Munich.
His arrival was definitely designed less complicated by all those all over him also stepping up their activity. Most notably, Jamal Musiala has quite rapidly become a critical piece of this Bayern aspect.
The 19-12 months-old German international is correctly created for Nagelsmann’s system mainly because he thrives in tight parts and is in a position to defend the ball even against two or 3 markers.
It goes without having stating that Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman and Joshua Kimmich also prosper in direct and face-paced soccer. They have proven that already, significantly under head coach Hansi Flick when Bayern gained the Champions League in 2020.
Union Berlin neutralised Bayern
Anticipations rose just after Bayern started off the season scoring 20 goals in their first four video games, which includes 6 towards Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt. A lot of in Germany felt that no other side could realistically challenge them and deny them their 11th domestic championship in a row. But they have hit a couple of roadblocks not long ago.
Very first, they only drew with Borussia Monchengladbach at residence, however the most important purpose for that result was an fantastic overall performance by Borussia goalkeeper Yann Sommer who produced 19 will save, marking a new league record.
Whilst that draw looked like a freak accident, Bayern also only drew 1-1 towards Union Berlin last Saturday.
Union, arguably the most able defensive side in the Bundesliga, laid out a blueprint for how to neutralise Bayern. They utilized a slim higher press, closing down the passing lanes for vertical balls and placing stress on Bayern’s centre halves.
Union supposed to do away with any unpredictability by forcing Bayern to the wings where by Coman or Sane would interact in just one-on-types which could be defended much more very easily than any rapid pass mixture. Mane was isolated up front and did not drop back into midfield to interact with his teammates as frequently as in previous game titles.
Nagelsmann has been confident that his crew are ready to crack by limited defences. “To lay bricks versus us is usual,” he mentioned. “But we will tear holes versus deep-sitting down opponents, far too.”
Union, nonetheless, offered a new issue in that they pressed larger up the pitch than other individuals.
It is risk-free to say that Bayern’s domestic rivals and their three opponents in Champions League team C have taken note and may perhaps even consider to copy Union’s defensive tactic. Now it is up to Nagelsmann and his gamers to use this encounter and refine their model even even further.
