Will the Munich empire strike back? Or will Leverkusen pull off another coup? The predictions for the title fight are less clear than in previous years.
Declining faith in the record champions, growing respect for the defending champions – FC Bayern is no longer the sole favorite going into the new season. Unlike in previous years, when predictions were clearer in favor of the Munich team, most Bundesliga clubs expect an open title fight. This was the result of a survey by the German Press Agency dpa in the upper echelons of German football.
The changing of the guard from Bayern, after eleven championships in a row, to Leverkusen, who were unbeaten throughout the season, is changing expectations and fueling anticipation for the new season, which begins on Friday (8.30 p.m.) with the match between the new league leaders in Mönchengladbach. “Perhaps we have the most exciting league in Europe at the moment,” said Dortmund’s sporting director Lars Ricken.
Although FC Bayern, which recently fell to third place, is still considered the number one contender for the title by most of the coaches and sports directors surveyed, it faces competition in this ranking from Leverkusen. “I believe that Bayer Leverkusen will successfully defend the title. Xabi Alonso’s team brings incredible power and energy to the pitch. But the competition will get closer,” predicted Wolfsburg football coach Ralph Hasenhüttl.
Duel for the title?
His colleagues Julian Schuster (SC Freiburg) and Marcel Rapp (Holstein Kiel) are of a similar opinion. “Bayer Leverkusen deserved to become German champions last season. I’m counting on them again this year,” commented Streich’s successor Schuster.
BVB sports director Ricken favors Bayern, but sees the Werkself as being on par despite the difficult starting position: “There are now different expectations in Leverkusen. But nobody assumes that they will no longer be up there.” It is striking that neither the runner-up from Stuttgart nor the Dortmund team, which has been completely revamped at great expense, were named as possible title favorites.
Particularly motivated after changing of the guard
Although first place was a whopping 18 points away at the end of last season, the majority believe that the old balance of power will return: “Bayern Munich – they will be highly motivated not to miss out on the trophy twice in a row,” said Mainz coach Bo Henriksen.
Jess Thorup (FC Augsburg) gave a similar answer: “Bayern Munich, because they will be even more focused after missing out on the championship.” Other coaches such as Ole Werner (Werder Bremen), Bo Svensson (Union Berlin), Alexander Blessin (St. Pauli), Dino Toppmöller (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Pellegrino Matarazzo (TSG Hoffenheim) also see the team of their new league colleague Vincent Kompany coming out on top. Bayer sports director Simon Rolfes was happy to leave the burden to what is probably their biggest competitor: “FC Bayern always goes into the race as the favorite.”
Attack Department
Uli Hoeneß was aggressive as usual. The honorary president of Munich took the professionals to task in his own way: “Our players who didn’t win the championship are all pretty angry and want to prove that it was a slip-up. I am very, very confident that we will be at the top again next year.”
Source: Stern
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