Four Major Concerns After Yet Another Lackluster Performance
At first glance, things seem rosy for Bayern Munich—sitting atop the Bundesliga with an eight-point cushion and cruising into the Champions League knockout stages. But scratch the surface, and the cracks are obvious. The Bavarians are stumbling their way through both competitions, with performances that inspire little confidence. A goalless draw against Leverkusen followed by a frustrating 1-1 tie with Celtic raises a painful question: is this really the Bayern that expects to be lifting silverware in May? Or will the season end with their players watching the final from their couches?
1. The Transfer Window Blunder
Sporting director Max Eberl had a golden opportunity to fix Bayern’s glaring squad imbalances in January—but bafflingly, he did nothing. Case in point: the chaotic aftermath of Harry Kane’s substitution against Celtic. Musiala, Coman, Sané, and Olise were left aimlessly weaving through defenders, with no real target man to connect with. Instead of splashing €51 million on Palhinha, Bayern could have secured a much-needed clinical striker—someone like Füllkrug, Ducksch, or even Kleindienst, all for a fraction of that price. Even a free transfer for a rising talent like Woltemade would have added more structure to their attack.
PS: Why was Müller, a proven game-changer in clutch moments, kept on the bench for so long?
2. Goretzka: The Midfield Enforcer Bayern Needed All Along
Leon Goretzka was reportedly on the chopping block, yet his resilience in staying put has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. His physicality and drive add much-needed steel to Bayern’s midfield. With Kimmich, Pavlovic, and Goretzka already available, was signing Palhinha really necessary? The decision raises serious questions about the club’s transfer strategy.
3. Over-Reliance on Musiala
Bayern’s attacking struggles have become painfully predictable: give the ball to Musiala and hope for magic. This over-dependence exposes the inconsistency of long-serving wingers Coman (since 2015), Gnabry (2017), and Sané (2020). Their performances fluctuate wildly—brilliant one match, invisible the next—but their wages remain consistently high. Is it time for Bayern to move on? A bold generational shift featuring young stars like Wirtz (Leverkusen), Gittens (Dortmund), or Nico Williams (Bilbao) could inject fresh dynamism into the squad.
4. A Defense in Freefall
Bayern’s backline has become alarmingly vulnerable. Opponents approach every match with the belief that a simple long ball can slice through their defense. The results speak for themselves: defeats to Aston Villa (0-1), Feyenoord (0-3), and Mainz (1-2), plus a frustrating 1-1 home draw with Celtic. Kim Min-jae has struggled to impose himself, and the once-reliable right-back position—previously dominated by Lahm and Kimmich—has become a major weak point. Neither Boey nor Laimer has provided a solid solution, while Stanisic remains far from his brilliant Leverkusen form.
