Last Week In Bayern News
August 4, 2020 Sunday
We dread these Sundays in summer. Not because they are inherently lazy, but because this particular Sunday carried the worst jinx of them all. Let me speak here of the event that must not be spoken of: Benji suffered an injury in training which might make our path in Lisbon harder than it already is.
This absence of the defensive stalwart undoubtedly affects the team morale and stability in more ways than one. What Benji lacked in attacking prowess going forward, he made up for by being a very reliable defensive piece on the field. However if you ask me, Hansi Flick has been known for turning around uncomfortable situations with a minimum set of key adjustments. That is what his time at Bayern Munich signifies: that is the heart and spirit of Flicki Flacka. What a time to be alive.
Moving on to more predictable things, the schedule for the 2020/21 DFB-Pokal first draw has been out for a while now..
Monday
No kidding, KHR.
We should put some Keep calm and believe in Flick t-shirts up for sale.
Unpopular opinion, but moving Kimmich back to defense is backwards thinking to me. He is the one whose absence is felt the most during crucial two-legged UCL matches, especially when the match in question is a single-legged KO tie. Kimmich at right-back should be the last option.
Keep calm and believe in Flick.
Tuesday
This image looks like a modern day equivalent of the Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, fight me.
Keeping ahead of the curve, the DFL has finally been taking solid steps in order to bring back the atmosphere we miss so much.
Is it just my nostalgia or Klose winning the WC feels just like…..yesterday? And now he is here at Säbener Strasse training these younger players.
Probably just my nostalgia.
Wednesday
That was really fast.
In the spirit of the Bundesliga, Hansi Flick wants to stuff the squad with a fourth winger. Wait, wasn’t Davies a winger too?
Tale of the Alabas.
How Hansi Flick convinced a winger to play as a full-back, be excellent in the role and want to go on playing as a full-back will always be beyond me.
Key takeaway: be it on the pitch or in group photos, Miroslav Klose always stands like a hungry striker who is waiting for a cross to pounce on.
Thursday
Pre matchday, lots of happy faces in and around Säbener Strasse. Yes, Niklas!
Anyone who says Kimmich is not the future captain of the Bavarians can wallow in misery in the next few years. But seriously, this begs the question: what can’t Joshua Kimmich do? He can dictate the tempo of the match from midfield, he can be one of the very best attacking outlets from right back, stop dangerous wing build-up plays, and he is a very energetic, leading personality, overall.
It was time for Don Uli’s handiwork to be revealed, after all.
Friday
The Bayern XI to face Olympique de Marseille:
Key takeaways from the lineup: Niklas Süle is expected to play his first game since his ACL injury, the new lads won’t get to play, which means Hansi Flick has the freedom to explore options (within reasonable constraints) for this new 11 after a three week break.
The dullness of the attack was apparent within the first half, but what was not apparent was a lack of effort. We want to stress upon this, in no way did a Bayern 11 treat this match against Marseille as a training opportunity. The team went all out, and that on a hot Friday afternoon too. This means that the ball-hogging Bayern Munich we know of eventually grew into the game with their attacks increasingly converging on the Marseille goal. No later than 19 minutes into the game, with the help of Alaba and some silky footwork, Serge scored the only goal of the game that allowed Hansi Flick to explore his options further for his best 11.
The match ended a comfortable 1-0, short of some wasted chances for the lads to work on. What I found the most interesting were the long passes from Süle to Odriozola on the right wing. What I have learned from years of playing football is that those passes had too much power behind them, which is corollary to Süle having finally recovered from his injury break. Amidst a terrible start to the week and a fantastic end, I’d rate this week a 5/10 and Süle’s recovery a solid 7/10.
Saturday
You think Bayern Munich sleeps easy after a win? Think again.
You mean old strength as in this isn’t your final form yet? Why am I getting Dragon Ball Z flashbacks?
Thomas speaks for all of us here at Miasanrot as well as everyone out there. We would like for them to stay as well.
A rough week overall that ended on a good note. There were days when some of us were pulled aside thinking this is probably it, old jinxes are going to return and the same old patterns will repeat. But time and time again, the work ethic of the players and the philosophy of the club reminds us to believe in ourselves and to literally put our head down and get to work as we remind ourselves: we are who we are.
