Lots of world stars, no clippers
FC Bayern is looking for the super striker
04/19/2023 1:59 p.m
All against Erling Haaland – that’s what FC Bayern will say in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Manchester City. The Norwegian is a super striker that Munich lacks. They don’t have someone like him in the squad – which is now also frustrating for CEO Kahn.
This unbridled force! That insatiable hunger for goals! At the reunion with “Tormonster” Erling Haaland, the bosses of Bayern Munich should have felt a little heavy. Last summer, they campaigned intensively for the Norwegian and thus alienated Torgarant Robert Lewandowski. The thought that it could work without a real nine replacement turned out to be a major misjudgment – and should now be corrected as soon as possible.
The English captain Harry Kane from Tottenham, the former Wolfsburg Victor Osimhen, who is currently succeeding at SSC Naples, Frankfurt’s vice world champion Randal Kolo Muani or recently the young Dane Rasmus Höjlund from Bergamo – there are a few candidates. It was already clear under Julian Nagelsmann that the need for action was urgent. Successor Thomas Tuchel is also sorely missing a striker in addition to the emergency solution Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
World stars do not replace missing strikers
“We’re missing something in the box,” said midfield boss Joshua Kimmich recently. Only seven goals in five games under Tuchel before the quarter-final second leg in the Champions League against Haaland’s Manchester City speak for themselves. CEO Oliver Kahn felt compelled to increase the pressure on the stars.
“We have more than 20 national players in our squad, it’s definitely not due to the sporting quality,” he said in “Sport Bild”. Really not? Supposed “world stars” such as Lewandowski replacement Sadio Mané, Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman cavort on the offensive. There are also exceptional talents like Jamal Musiala and Mathys Tel, Choupo-Moting and veteran Thomas Müller, about whom Tuchel said: “We don’t have anyone who is as smart, courageous and sly in the box.” A praise as a censure for the others.
Doubts have long been growing in Munich as to whether the said quality is that far away. Especially when – as in some cases – the necessary greed is missing. “What we’re missing at the moment is that we have a lot of chances to score and we can’t take them,” said defender Benjamin Pavard, “that’s the problem.” It runs like a red thread through the season.
Weakness in attack annoys Tuchel
When Kahn complains about “too little will, too little willingness” like now, he primarily has the offensive in mind. “Everyone has to know what the decisive phase of the season is all about: showing who FC Bayern is,” he emphasized. Anyone who doesn’t do this is quickly a candidate for sale.
Tuchel also sees the problem. “We’re missing a bit of processes, trust, lightness,” said the coach about the weakness in attack. “We think too much, everything looks a bit heavier than it should be in April and May. A simple dust-off can burst the knot. It’s our turn.”
Kahn relies on that. “Under Thomas, the team will find their form and consistency again,” he predicted. “The last few games have shown that there are some major adjustments that Thomas has to make.” Especially in front.