Ahead of the Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Manchester City this Wednesday, Bayern Munich’s mood has hit rock bottom.
Stony faces of the club’s leaders, such as chairman Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, might tell the story of the 2020 treble winners in turmoil as well as pictures of the players spiritlessly lying on the pitch.
Poor results in several competitions indicate the change of coaches from Julian Nagelsmann to Thomas Tuchel in the middle of the season’s crunch time hasn’t been enough to cure one of football’s struggling giants.
Not to speak of failing to create optimism for the last eight round re-match in the Champions League following a disastrous 3-0 first-leg defeat last week in Manchester.
The Bavarians’ difficulties seem to ground deeper as Kahn and Salihamidzic move into the line of fire. Fans and media deliver various accusations for having assembled an imbalanced squad.
“We showed no emotion,” new arrival Tuchel stated, disillusioned. “Not all seem to be aware the house is on fire,” the 2021 Champions League winner said after roughly three weeks in charge.
The Bayern coach admitted to being shocked due to the disappointing draw against underdogs Hoffenheim.
To possibly face a season without a trophy is making Bayern ring the alarm bells.
The minor setback of league rival Borussia Dortmund doesn’t seem a suitable consolation as the national title is only a minimum goal.
Dreams in the German Cup and the Champions League have been shattered, as more than a miracle seems needed to turn things for the better when crossing swords with former Bayern coach Pep Guardiola this week.
It seems more than a bold guess that Bayern’s squad requires a fundamental reconstruction.
To only add a robust striker to the group of gifted performers doesn’t seem enough as the current team has lost faith and seems to have reached a final point. Rumors speak of Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani on Bayern’s priority list.
Club icon Thomas Muller started a delicate debate about the team’s missing quality. “It might sound hard, but we are shocked by our poor performances,” the 33-year-old added.
The reported locker room scuffle after the defeat in Manchester between Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane seems to draw a dubious picture of the team’s internal atmosphere.
The former Liverpool star is said to have slapped Sane’s face before facing a one-game suspension and a fine.
Former Bayern stars and current TV pundits blame the club leaders for not having intervened despite several cases of indiscipline. Not to speak of inside information having been leaked over the past weeks.
In a desperate appeal, Tuchel called for rapid improvements for the upcoming games to at least secure the Bundesliga title.
A few days ago, the coach spoke about “a dream to coach Bayern.” As it seems the new coach has made a hard landing in reality at present.
