Top game Leverkusen vs. Bavaria
Dietmar Hamann: “Bavaria will be financially expenses like never before”
Dietmar Hamann about the expensive personnel policy of FC Bayern, Leverkusen’s playful dominance – and the reasons why Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala do not match each other.
Mr. Hamann, at the duel Leverkusen against FC Bayern this Saturday not only the two best teams in Germany meet, but also two of the greatest talents of world football: Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala. If you were a sports director and should choose one of the two players – who would you choose?
For Wirtz, even if Bayern will not like to hear that. Wirtz is one who makes an entire team better. A real ten, a playmaker, technically outstanding and at the same time equipped with a very good eye for his side people. This is very rare in this combination.
Uli Hoeneß recently said that he Landlord would like to bring to FC Bayern. But not in exchange against Musiala, but as his teammate. What do you think of this plan?
Phew, difficult. The two are too similar. They have their strengths in the central midfield and would stand on each other on their feet in Munich. Or one of the two would have to switch to the wing, which would mean that he could not bring his qualities a hundred percent.
To person
Dietmar Hamann, 51, works today as a TV expert. During his active career, he played for FC Bayern, Liverpool and Manchester City, among others
However, this seems to work in the national team. National coach Nagelsmann relyed on both players during the European Championships 2024 and also in the subsequent Nation League games.
In my opinion, this worked less well at the European Championship. The European Championship was the Musiala tournament. I saw Wirtz significantly weaker. He scored a goal in the quarter -finals against Spain – but what else has remembered? Look at Leverkusen, he really blooms this season. Why? Because there is a clear distribution of roles. Granit Xhaka organizes the defensive, and at the front Wirtz directs the direction without anyone interconnecting.
Wirtz can play in every team in the world. What should he be afraid of?
Even if Wirtz seems to be an early fulfillment: he is only 21 years old. Would a step towards a top European club make sense in summer or would that be too early?
Wirtz can play in every team in the world. What should he be afraid of? But I don’t want to give him advice, he will decide that together with his parents and Bayer Leverkusen. He makes a very prudent impression on me.
In addition to Florian Wirtz, Leverkusen also has a second star in his ranks: Xabi AlonsoYour former teammate from Liverpooler times and today’s coach of Bayer 04. How do you see his development?
Xabi has proven that winning the championship last year was not a coincidence. Leverkusen was the only German team to qualify for the round of 16 of the Champions League. Bavaria and Dortmund are playing the play-offs, and Leipzig is completely out. This shows where Leverkusen is. Xabi led the team to the top ten in Europe.
And playfully? What distinguishes the Leverkusen team in 2025 from that from the master season?
Xabi still lets a rousing, technically high -class football play. The team today looks mature and more clarified than last season. For me, Leverkusen is the best team in Germany.
These Bavaria are vulnerable if you put them under pressure at the back
FC Bayern is the leaders.
It may be, but the Bavarians are defensively more susceptible. Most recently against Celtic Glasgow on Wednesday, they wobbled quite a bit in the final minutes. In general, the Champions League showed that Bayern can be cracked. Even supposedly smaller teams such as Aston Villa or Feyenoord Rotterdam did this. There was also the 1: 4 clap against Barcelona, a very dark evening. So: these Bavarians are vulnerable if you put them under pressure at the back.
In the club, however, it has been calm than for a long time. After moving years under Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel, one seems to be very satisfied in Munich with the work of the new coach Vincent Kompany. Wrongly?
No, Company’s work is very respectable. You have to get that out as a young coach to bring structure back into this team and to pacify it. When Tuchel went last summer, there was a lot in the Argen. The team and trainer were crossed, and there was also Zoff in the cabin. Vincent Kompany has now gathered everyone behind. You never hear him talk badly about his players, even after poor performance. His boys thank him for this loyalty. They follow him.
The question is just: who will remain from the top performers? Stocking the contract negotiations with Joshua Kimmich, and the extension with Jamal Musiala, longed for by the association, was long in coming. Enforcement was only reported this Friday. What does this say about the sporting leadership of FC Bayern?
That it is very late with important personal details – and that it becomes very expensive. You should have regulated all of this last summer. Joshua Kimmich is now captain of the German national team, which has increased its market value again. He knows that Bayern absolutely want to extend with him. He can stay completely calm and see what else comes in. Things were similar with Musiala. The club absolutely wanted and the player was sitting on the longer lever for months. Now Musiala has extended and supposedly rises to an absolute top earner. Bavaria will be financially expenses like never before to keep their best people. They face the most expensive transfer period in their club history.
Your tip for the game on Saturday?
I trust Leverkusen a victory, but Bayern are masters. Leverkusen probably no longer caught the eight points and 24 goals lead that Bayern have.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
