Title race: Bayern staggers: regression in “seven-league boots”

Uli Hoeneß could hardly look at the next title shock from his beloved FC Bayern. Marked by grief, the honorary president watched alongside ex-boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who was also dismayed, as the Munich stars failed again in the fight for the cup – and angered coach Thomas Tuchel like never before.

The impending first season without a title since 2012 will cause severe turbulence for the reeling record champions right up to the executive floor. CEO Oliver Kahn was stunned when he saw the conceded goal in the 3-1 draw against RB Leipzig in the stands, while sports director Hasan Salihamidzic talked to him. What will become of the duo?

It’s getting uncomfortable in the box

A good two decades after the emotionally celebrated last-minute championship in a long-distance duel with FC Schalke 04, the then goalkeeper titan Kahn pulled himself together on Saturday evening to a defiant slogan that there was still a big championship party in red and white on May 28th at Munich’s Marienplatz.

But the supervisory board meeting set for the day of the decision two days later was uncomfortable, even in the last-minute title case. After three second places in 2012, there was the last major turning point. A change is needed now. The only question is how comprehensive this will be. Hoeneß will play a key role in deciding how his life’s work will continue.

After two months in office, Tuchel felt “a bit of a feeling” of powerlessness when his stars inexplicably dropped in performance. The 49-year-old didn’t stop listing the list of shortcomings after even a decent first half hour. “Big, bad” technical mistakes, positioning, decisions, running behavior – Tuchel didn’t really like anything.

“Will turn everything upside down”

But what really baffled him was that all of this had come so suddenly, even for him as an experienced coach. After the team took many small steps in the right direction, he found it inexplicable “why we then decided to go in the completely different direction with seven-league boots,” complained Tuchel. He announced a radical analysis: “We will turn everything upside down.”

After losing out in the DFB Cup and Champions League and setbacks in the Bundesliga, Tuchel is starting the new season with a battered image, for which the Munich side have to spend a lot of money on new stars. “We’ll sit down after the season and see what needs to be done on the transfer market,” said Salihamidzic: “There are definitely a few issues.”

In the summer of 2012, Javi Martínez came for 40 million euros, a record purchase for the defensive midfield at the time. A decade later, according to reports, Tuchel wants a robust clearer for this position. There is an urgent need for action for the storm center anyway.

Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer, who equalized after Serge Gnabry made it 1-0 in Munich, hinted at a move to Bayern Munich. The announcement is getting closer, although it didn’t happen on Saturday. “I don’t feel like confirming anything now,” Kahn said.

Goalkeeping Titan on thin ice

Rather, he was busy mobilizing all remaining strength reserves after a sapping season for the final next Saturday away against 1. FC Köln. Dortmund will host FSV Mainz 05 a week after the Augsburg game. “My faith is always there. I’ll do the devil and give something away here,” said Kahn.

This attitude could also apply to his own job. In 2012, Matthias Sammer joined as the new sports director for sports director Christian Nerlinger. Is it Kahn now? Or Salihamidzic? Or both? Decision-makers and stars agree: there can be no business as usual. “A reflection of the season. There were too many games like today,” said midfield leader Joshua Kimmich. Many fans had enough of their team prematurely. Crowds of Bayern fans poured out of the Allianz Arena before the final whistle.

Against the Saxons, who were able to celebrate victory and early qualification for the Champions League thanks to further goals from Christopher Nkunku and Dominik Szoboszlai after penalties, the most expensive squad in the club’s history lacked greed and class. Despite strong individual talent, at least by name, there is no real team on the field.

Run over in New York

“If we stop playing according to our principles, then it becomes a dice game. Then we win or lose,” said Tuchel and shrugged his shoulders in annoyance. He commented on the equalizer with pictures. “You have to adapt your behavior. If you cross the street in New York, you behave differently than if you cross the street in Bogenhausen. If you walk without looking, you will be run over.” The former Chelsea coach also let it be known that he would have liked to start with the new season, “but it’s not always a request concert”.

In the past ten years, FC Bayern has always been at least a champion. A year after the tearful sadness of 2011/12, there was even a treble that Thomas Müller and Co. were able to repeat in 2020. “It’s also surprising to me that the team might not win a title. I always stand behind the team. Maybe they need a season in which they experience what it’s like not to win a title,” said Salihamidzic. The sports director added, revealingly honestly: “The problems run deep, but I can’t say what our problems are.”