How strong are the FC Bayern basketball players?

Shortly before the start of the playoffs in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), Bayern Munich’s managing director Marko Pesic asked his team to put aside dreams of the title, at least for the time being. The third in the table in the main round shouldn’t “think about the championship”, says the 46-year-old in an interview with the Abendzeitung, but has to “concentrate fully on Göttingen. That’s a very unpleasant team.” After twelve years of abstinence, the Lower Saxony have bought their ticket for the championship round, so they have “nothing to lose”, emphasizes Pesic. FC Bayern welcomes BG Göppingen to the Audi Dome on Tuesday (8:30 p.m.) and starts the playoffs with this game.

For many, they are among the favorites for the championship title alongside Bonn and Alba Berlin. But the Munich team, who last won the championship in 2019, were not in top form. The last three games of the BBL main round were all lost. There was talk in the media of Bayern’s “bloodless performances”.

How serious is the loss of top performers?

Coach Andrea Trinchieri tries to appease that in the end he deliberately rested players and refers to the cup success: “When we really had to be there – in the cup – we were there.” In the win against Oldenburg, however, three top performers were still there: Vladimir Lucic, Othello Hunter and Augustine Rubit are injured for the playoffs.

“The leader has to be the team, the cohesion, the emotions that we show.” Marko Pesic, Managing Director FC Bayern Basketball

“We have to make up for that together, also with the fans,” said Pesic. So Bayern need a new leader – someone like Andreas Obst. “I feel compelled to go ahead,” says the international in an interview with BR24Sport. Obst wants to help celebrate their second title this season after winning the cup. Last year, after a strenuous Euroleague season, it was only enough to become runner-up.

“Of course we are the favourites, but Göttingen will come with a lot of self-confidence after they won the last game against us. We have to show them in the two home games that they can’t get anything here,” demands the shooting guard. They have to provide initial proof of this on Tuesday.