FC Bayern is missing the clipper (nd-aktuell.de)

Meteorologists place the city of Plzeň in the cool-temperate zone, and with it the football arena there. But what sounds unspectacular may not be entirely true, at least this Wednesday (kick-off 9 p.m.) when Viktoria Plzeň welcomes FC Bayern Munich to the group game of the Champions League. The Munich team will bring their current stimulating climate to the small stadium with just 11,700 seats after they covered the almost 300-kilometer route from their club premises to their hotel not far from the Czech champions’ venue in the team bus on Tuesday.

The extent to which the 2-0 lead in the Bundesliga, which was lost in the Bundesliga on Saturday, still has an effect in the 2-2 in Dortmund can be seen in the debates that are being held with the lively participation of the Munich grandees. “Bayern DNA desperately sought” was read, for example, in the local “Abendzeitung” on Tuesday. “Bayern Nagelsmann is overwhelmed?” asked the “tz”. The fact that “the next staff alarm” was also called out fits into the picture of the general excitement, which has not only gripped the tabloids.

In Plzeň, the in-form national player Jamal Musiala is now also out due to a corona infection, as is Alphonso Davies (bruised skull), Manuel Neuer (bruised shoulder) and the long-term injured Lucas Hernández (torn muscle) and Bouna Sarr (knee surgery). Most recently, Neuer, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller had been affected by Covid diseases. Matthijs de Ligt (adductors) and Serge Gnabry (bruised knee) also returned from Dortmund. And at least in a figurative sense, that also applies to coach Julian Nagelsmann. After just one win in the last six league games (with four draws and one defeat), the 35-year-old can only show a poor record overall for the Bavarian self-image. Four wins in nine league games are not enough.

On the other hand, things have been going well in the Champions League so far, although the 2-0 successes at Inter Milan and against FC Barcelona were not achieved as confidently as the result in each case might suggest. The undoubtedly very confident 5-0 in the first meeting with Plzeň on Tuesday a week ago should now be followed by the fourth win in the fourth of six group games. At best, from the point of view of Munich, early entry into the round of 16 could be achieved. That would be the case if Barcelona didn’t win against Inter in the parallel game. Otherwise, Bayern could even be eliminated, regardless of whether they win at the Czech champions or not. But despite all the disappointments in the Bundesliga, the Munich team is far removed from such pessimistic theories.

However, the pressure is noticeably increased, especially in relation to the championship. In Dortmund, CEO Oliver Kahn emphasized his outburst of anger in the stands when he demanded: “We have to get going quickly now.” And: “We have to get back to first place quickly.” He also warned of “result stability”. on. Playing consistently draws is obviously not enough for him. The following day, Honorary President Uli Hoeneß and his current successor Herbert Hainer also made critical and demanding statements on Bavarian Radio. “It’s not actually Bayern-like,” said Hoeneß about the wasted chance of winning in Dortmund and made his contribution to the center forward debate: “I think we’re missing a nine,” said Hoeneß, “a center forward or a clipper, that unfortunately we don’t have it at the moment. Now Julian and the team just have to try to compensate in some other way.” There is already a lot of speculation about potential strikers, such as Marcus Thuram from Borussia Mönchengladbach, who will be on a free transfer next summer.

But for the time being, the current Munich workforce has to take care of itself. And as quickly as possible, as Hainer pointed out just a few hours after Kahn and Hoeneß. “We’re definitely not satisfied in the Bundesliga. If we only win four out of nine games, then that’s not FC Bayern’s claim, you have to say that very clearly,” said Hainer. “That’s why we have to get back on track immediately and score points in the Bundesliga to get back to the top.” But that won’t be the case until Sunday, when second-placed SC Freiburg join third-placed FC Bayern. The evening before, the annual general meeting is scheduled for Munich. Then, in the current stimulating climate, the controversial subject of Qatar will also be discussed.