It’s rumbling again at Bayern. Everything could be so harmonious: The start of the Bundesliga has gone well with three wins from three games. And the German record champions also defied the fear opponent curse of Mönchengladbach.
The Bayern pros celebrated the 2-1 trembling victory after a 1-0 deficit at Borussia, as if another title had been won. “It feels incredibly good to finally have won again here,” said midfielder Leon Goretzka after four and a half winless years with four defeats from five competitive games in Gladbach.
Messed up transfer period is having an effect
For coach Thomas Tuchel and his team, the well-deserved and hard-fought success in the league classic came at just the right time. Because the messed up end of the summer transfer period is having an effect. “That was important because there were a lot of noises – as is so often the case,” said Tuchel. “That was a good reaction. Three wins to start with – that’s good.”
But the discussions about failed transfers and possibly too many defenders should continue. Tuchel himself makes no effort to hide his dissatisfaction, especially over the last-minute signing of defensive midfielder João Palhinha from Fulham FC. “Very incredulous” he followed the last day of the transfer deadline, noted Tuchel. Because, as some professionals confirmed, the Portuguese was already at Säbener Straße and had completed the medical check. According to Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, Fulham did not find a replacement in time.
So Tuchel has to get along in defensive midfield with Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich and Konrad Laimer. “We have three people and we play with them. It has to work like this until winter,” said the coach about his luxury problem with the defensive midfield, which together has a market value of 150 million euros. And the players concerned did not go down well with the debate about the lack of a robust and pure defensive player in midfield. “We played midfield here, too, and I think we did quite well,” said Goretzka defiantly.
But Tuchel pointed out that a type of player like Palhinha is missing. “He would have unleashed our full potential in this position again,” argued the coach, who immediately faced opposition from the Bayern management for his openly expressed disappointment. “Sure, he has to be a little more creative now. That’s his job,” said Dreesen on Sky.
Delivered five defenders, brought only three
The fact that the club did not cut a good figure at the end of the transfer deadline did not go unnoticed by the current squad – which only consists of 22 men. “I also believe that the club imagined the deadline day differently,” said Thomas Müller. In addition to the collapsed Palhinha deal, the personnel policy in the defense caused astonishment. Five defenders were given away, but only three new ones were brought in. “We’ve had a broader base before, that’s obvious,” said Goretzka. And Tuchel criticized the squad: “He’s thinner than before. It’s a bit thin, a little bit.”
He no longer has the problem of having to keep many dissatisfied substitutes happy. In particular, the departed Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan) and Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) were unhappy with their situation. Staffing levels only become a problem when there are injuries. “We don’t doubt the squad’s ability to perform, but now we need a bit of luck,” said Tuchel in the ZDF “Sportstudio”: “Hopefully, with a bit of luck, you can get through it until winter.”
World champion Müller recalled that FC Bayern had always shown strength in such situations and produced promising talents. “I’m not worried now. We’re in a great position,” said Müller. Young talent could also step in. “There are already a few who have the potential to be there.”
It was also indicated in Gladbach that the current discussion could ultimately be a sham debate. After all, Tuchel had the opportunity to substitute Laimer, Serge Gnabry, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Matthijs de Ligt and Mathys Tel, who then also scored the last-minute winner. “One or the other club would also like to have that,” said Bayern President Herbert Hainer on Sunday in the Sport1 “Doppelpass”: “You saw how many first-class players we have who can also turn a game like this.”
DFL to the game Bundesliga table Bundesliga match day squad FC Bayern Munich
