Bayern Munich Season Report

Bayern Munich sealed the 2014/2015 Bundesliga championship with four games to spare. They accumulated a total of 79 points, exactly 10 points ahead of a second-place Wolfsburg to achieve the title. Super Bayern has been crowned as German champions for the 25th time.With players that will easily be recognized as Bayern Munich legends in a few years such as Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Manuel Neuer, they were able to secure the title for the third consecutive year.

The Bayern world champions came in to the season enthusiastically, they seemed almost unstoppable, bringing German football under the spotlight once again. A new transfer, Robert Lewandowski, was also brought in to add another attacking element. A line-up with Lewandowski and his quick feet, flanked by both Ribery and Robben seemed too good to be true. At this time, it appeared as the team would advance far in the Uefa Champions league, and in the DFB-Pokal. Bayern continued to rake in points in the bundesliga, and in the Champions league, defeating teams by huge leads such as a 7-1 annihilation of Roma in the group stages.

If there’s one thing Bayern Munich will be remembered towards the end of the season, it is the amount of injuries incurred. Due to injury, Pep Guardiola lacked depth in his squad, and struggled in almost every away match in the Champions league. Despite this, however, Bayern Munich managed to make it to the semifinals in the DFB-Pokal as well as in the Champions league. The rocky season, and close call results have brought many questions into the picture.

Is Pep Guardiola the right manager?
Dealing with an injured, and older squad is one thing. Getting the tactics wrong is another. Guardiola was put under heavy scrutinization for failing to defeat Barcelona in the Champions league semifinals. He made a huge error in his tactics for the first leg making it almost impossible for chance to recover. Many went as far as to say, Guardiola had wanted his beloved team Barcelona to win. Although this conclusion is a little far fetched, there is one thing that we can be certain of: Guardiola is a stubborn man. He rarely moves away from his ideals even when it puts a win at risk. There was a lot of drama after the 3-1 loss against Porto in the Champions league. The Bayern board overlooked Pep, and pointed fingers at Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt who eventually resigned claiming he had been wrongly blamed. Management seems to think Guardiola is doing something right, regardless of all the complaints from fans. We’ll see what Pep has in store for Bayern Munich in the coming season.

An aging squad?
Pep Guardiola can no longer rely on his star wingers: Franck Ribery (32), and Arjen Robben (31) to stay healthy. Injuries at this age are almost expected. In 2013 Ribery was in the form of his life, he had signed an expensive contract until 2017. Ribery was a prime candidate for the Ballon d’Or, and the extensive contract seemed right at that time. However, in this 14/15 season, Ribery played in a total of only 23 games in all competitions. He has spent majority of the season watching games from the sidelines, and it seems like extending his contract for a hefty price was a huge mistake. It’s almost guaranteed Bayern Munich management will be looking to replace Ribery during this summers transfer window. Since Mario Gotze has failed to fill the role, Bayern will be looking to find a big name to fill the spot. Regardless, paying a large amount of money to a substitute player has put Bayern Munich is a precarious situation.

Robben, on the other hand, had an excellent run, however he was seriously injured, bringing an end to his season. A replacement might be needed soon, as he is due to turn 32 in January. There is also Phillip Lahm, who has never been the same after his ankle injury in the early stages of the season. Xabi Alonso, at 35 years of age, managed to make many mistakes in the Champions league when put under pressure. Bastian Schweinsteiger will turn 31 this year, and he is also not playing in the form that he was at a few years back. Bayern Munich will need to look at their younger players for support.

Thiago being the main man that could possibly be the middle field savior that Bayern is looking for. His ability was put into question after coming off of injury, but he proved everyone wrong by having an explosive season, confirming people’s view that he will be Bayern’s future. And of course Robert Lewandowski, David Alaba, and Thomas Muller will continue to be impactful in their roles. Lewandowski had a successful year bagging in several key goals, and seems like he has fit smoothly into the squad. David Alaba managed to make a name for himself, proving that he is not only able to play as a full-back but also in wider roles. He has also netted impressive long-range free kicks, showing he is a well rounded player that would be any coach’s dream to work with. Thomas Muller, as always, worked tirelessly in whatever role he was put in. Scoring 21 goals, and 18 assists reaffirming his position as one of Europe’s best. All these players have the abilities and leadership qualities that we have seen in the older players such as Schweinsteiger and Lahm.

Bayern Munich is still in need of a few specific players that will continue to reign as one of Germany’s top clubs and as a frontrunner in all competitions. These are just a few options that Bayern have this summer:

1.Ilkay Gundogan

With an aging midfield, Bayern must look for a young holding midfielder. It would be easier to bring in a man from within the bundesliga, and who other than the Borussia Dortmund man Gundogan. He is recognized for his excellent playmaking skills, and he is also able to break down defenses. He is also successful in a defensive position, known for making brilliant tackles when needed. It would not be difficult to assimilate to the team, as history has shown. Gotze, and Lewandowski easily made their transitions. However a transfer during this window may be unlikely since his contract lasts until 2016, and Bvb probably does not want to see yet another one of their own in a red kit.

2.Kevin De Bruyne
Bayern Munich’s 4-1 loss in January to Wolfsburg can be accredited to the Belgian man De Bruyne. and Bayern will want to purchase anyone who was able to score 2 goals and one assist on them. He can easily be contended as the Bundesliga’s best player this season, and would be a great candidate for a Robben/ Ribery replacement. However, again it is unlikely that Wolfsburg will release one of their stars to a rival.

3.Raheem Sterling
The Liverpool and England International recently stated that he plans on leaving Anfield, and has sparked the attention of all major clubs in europe. Bayern are aggressively pursuing Sterling as a replacement for Ribery. With all other potential players stuck in a contract, acquiring Sterling is Bayern’s best bet. Liverpool will also try to sell their player to team outside of the English premiere league if Bayern makes a promising offer. We can only wait to see what happens between these clubs in the chaotic transfer window.