Today we go again…
Ahead of the game tonight, Mikel Arteta called Bayern Munich “a tough team”, and whilst they having a poor season (by their standards) in the Bundesliga this year, they are still one of the best teams in Europe.
With just 6 games to go, Munich are 16 points behind unbeaten Leverkusen. Their chances of winning the Bundesliga is slim to none. But this is as much to do with Leverkusen’s brilliant form under Xabi Alonso (currently unbeaten), as Munich’s drop off.
Munich’s decline has been gradual over the last few years. And it shows a team that has lost motivation following 11 league titles in a row.
In 2021, they won the league with 78 points (2.3 per game). 2022 that dropped to 77 and last season they won the league with 71. The Bundesliga had become too easy for them and this season complacency has taken over.
They are actually on course for more points than they achieved last season, but no team should be winning the league averaging a smidge over 2 points a game. They are architects of their own downfall.
They made the league so uncompetitive through poaching every other sides top players that when a team did rise up, they found themselves to be unable to raise themselves for the challenge.
On top of their poor form in the league, Munich were knocked out of the German FA Cup by FC Saarbrücken, who play in the 3rd tier. They also lost their version of the Community Shield to RB Leipzig.
But beware the wounded lion.
The Champions League is the only trophy Munich have to win this season to avoid a first trophyless season since 2010/11. That makes them even more dangerous in my eyes.
They remind me of Chelsea in 2012.
Chelsea won the Champions League that year not because of their manager, but because their senior pros, a squad filled with experience and winners, got together and managed themselves to glory. I feel Bayern could go down the same route.
If the likes of Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Muller decide to put their grievances with Thomas Tuchel aside and lead from the front, Munich will still be a threat. The issue is for much of this season is they have not looked as motivated as previous years, and that has spread down to more junior players.
During Arteta’s press conference, Arteta did not really speak about injuries. I think we all know where we are at though – everyone but Jurrien Timber is available.
I am off to Munich in a week. I will not be unhappy with us going out their with a 5-0 win. But I will not get complacent. Munich will still be tough opponents.
UTA.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 