Should FC Bayern be concerned with blowing late leads recently? 🤔 | ESPN FC
Should Bayern be worried about blowing late leads recently?
ESPN FC's panel discusses Bayern Munich's recent habit of dropping points and late leads in the Bundesliga and Champions League. Jürgen Klinsmann sees it as a normal slow start after a busy World Cup schedule and expects Bayern to hit their stride by mid-November, while another guest criticizes the defensive details and says such lapses are unacceptable if Bayern want to compete for the Champions League.
- Bayern's early dropped points should not be overblown; he expects them to be back up to speed by mid-November and leading again, especially in Germany. — After a busy World Cup, a short break, the Bundesliga and Champions League rhythm, and four recent international games, it usually takes them longer to hit their stride.
- Manuel Neuer is still by far Germany's best goalkeeper, and the keeper filling in for him is a long way from that level. — Neuer stepped down from the national team, but Jurgen still rates him far above the alternatives; the backup has a long road to reach that standard.
- Bayern's backline will make unnecessary mistakes, but sooner or later they will rediscover their rhythm, confidence and accountability; the players know when to step up. — He trusts Bayern's players to reflect and move on, and while the German media will debate it, he believes they will get back on track.
- Bayern will probably still win the Bundesliga, but whether they win the Champions League is genuinely debatable. — There are real issues, but the Champions League format and the time of year leave room to fix them, and Bayern usually deliver when it matters.
- He misses seeing Neuer play; getting Neuer back at his best would help Bayern's leaky back line. — Neuer is a great goalkeeper who brings excitement and experience as a sweeper-keeper, and even with the occasional mistake, his presence can only help the defense.
- If Bayern are really going to be flying by mid-November, these defensive lapses cannot keep happening; they show a lack of attention to detail and basic defensive work, and are unacceptable if Bayern want to achieve their goals. — They have conceded five goals in the last couple of games against Oxford and Viking, including goals after about 30 seconds against Oxford and one minute against Viking; Vincent Kompany must address it, and this team is better than that.
Craig Burley, Jurgen Klinsmann and Ale Moreno join Dan Thomas on ESPN FC to discuss Bayern Munich's 3-3 draw vs. Vikings FK in the UEFA Champions League. ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN ESPNFC
Transcript
Jurgen Clintman, the perfect one to speak about this. Jurgen, what's We talked about it. They haven't been great in the Bundesliga, dropping points here. What's going on? I I think it's pretty much normal because uh especially when you follow up a big World Cup where your entire squad is uh very very busy in most of them until the very end of the tournament, you know, comes a short break and then you get back into the Bundesliga rhythm and then you obviously you pick up the pace with uh with the Champions League and now we had four international games uh just recently. So it it takes him usually always a little bit longer and and you have those games. So they had the tie on the weekend uh in the Bundesliga and and and now they get that tie um in the Champions League and in in Norway against a team that was fighting uh tremendously well. Um I I don't put too much into it. I think you know they pick up the pace you know step by step by middle of November they are back running and uh and and leading it especially in Germany again. There was a lot of uh kind of curiosity over the last couple of days uh in regards to Emanuel Neuer. Obviously he had made a big mistake in the last game there then got injured on his ankle didn't didn't play today. Ubi played on his part then today in in Norway and uh and then you have these little episodes that we saw there from from Misa you know losing it you know getting two yellow cards in 30 seconds. a little bit a little bit stupid but it's it's stuff that also uh company knows that those those things h happen and and he's not putting too much into it. Obviously they are a little bit they will be a little bit disappointed to give away the three points because they had them uh already kind of in the in the pocket. Um again based on the hard work or the tremendous good work from from Harry Kane who scored first two then he's part of the third one as well. um you thought, okay, they're going to go home to Germany with three points, but now obviously it's only a tie, but I see them I see them on track. I see them um obviously not flying yet like they mostly do, you know, in the middle of the season, but uh a compliment to to Viking. They they were fighting it. They were using their uh their chances uh almost 100%. They had maybe just two, they scored three goals at the end of the day and uh um yeah, they they did a they did a good job. Yeah, but Jurgen, we know you're a glass half full, man. The German press and the fans will be looking at this and talking about the fact, look, here we go again. We've conceded in the opening minute for the the second consecutive game. There there's there's concern surely from others, not from yourself, but [laughter] there is disappointment because it's Bayern Munich and because expectations, I suppose, are rightly so high. >> Yeah, and you're absolutely right, Dan. Um there is concern and there is discussion and there is uh there are the different opinions out there and it starts obviously in goal here we had Ubi today uh instead of Manuel Neuya and Manuel Neer is heavily discussed in Germany in the media right now obviously he stepped down from the national team for me personally still the best best German goalkeeper by far um and uh and it's going to be a long road for Ubi to get to that level um but they they yeah they have their moments where they make uh unnecessary mistakes in their backline. Um but uh sooner or later they pick up their rhythm and sooner or later they they kind of uh they have this piece of um confidence and and and also accountability in themselves which we talked about Man United before. But Bayern Munich players they they know when to kind of step it up. they know when they are kind of uh yeah guilty for something you know when they did mistakes you know and I I'm sure that they reflect on this game you know they look forward to the next one and and and then then they go back on the role but you are totally right it will be discussed up and down in the German media and uh the favorite topic for the German football fans is Bayern Munich >> yeah of course it is >> what German media are you reading >> all of it builder >> what are you kicker all over every morning it I've got ass, I've got marker, I've got kicker, I've got >> just everything. >> That's how I spend my breakfast. There it is. Digesting all >> Nobody because nobody wants to talk to you [laughter] breakfast that way. Well, look, at the end of the day, they're ironing out. They they'll probably win the Bundesliga uh at the end of the day. They're not at the top at the moment, but they usually when push comes to shove, they'll be there. Whether they'll win the Champions League or not, I think is really up for debate because because of all the issues you're you're talking about. The good news is the way this format is and and with the time of the year we're at, it's so much time to sort of solve the issues that are that are uh afflicting them at the moment. I I for one I got to say I sort of miss it when Manuel Neu is not playing. >> Oh, because Well, not only I I get it. He's a great goalkeeper and he is a great goalkeeper that there's no and has been a great goalkeeper. There's no doubt about that. but he's also just thoroughly bonkers. >> And uh he brings that he brings that little bit of excitement to this and he brings an experience to this back line even though he does some things at times that are sort of you know left field and makes a mistake but he brings an experience being that sweeper keeper to a back line that you know that that will be good as old as he is that will be good for Bayern to get him back playing at his best that can only help a back four that has been leaking goals. I know like everyone's going to qualify blah blah blah no big deal start to the season but it's Arsenal next so that' be quite fun we can take that serious am I allowed to take that seriously >> well they they lo well hold they lost to Arsenal last year >> yes they did >> and then they went on a a storming run >> well yes but Arsenal went further didn't they go there you've always got to spoil it [laughter] >> with your facts >> and without Michael >> yes >> who suspended yeah >> given the two yellow cards uh look >> opinions come and go in terms of where Bayern Munich should be at this point and where they will be according to Jurgen mid November this team is going to be flying and that may very well be the case. What I would just say and I would just stick to the facts >> they have played the last couple games against Oxford >> and Viking >> and they've allowed five goals and two of those goals were allowed with essentially 30 seconds against Oxford and one minute against Viking. If indeed this team is going to be flying as Jurgen is saying and from mid- November on these things cannot happen and this is lack of attention to detail. This is lack of attention to doing very basic things defensively. That is something that you have to address and I'm sure that Vincent company will address it. This team is much better than this. We expect them to be much better than this. We expect them that they're going to go on a run, but these sort of things are unacceptable if indeed Bayern Munich are going to achieve the things that they think are capable of achieving. >> I look forward to reading the reviews in kicker tomorrow. >> Uh just for >> will that be in German? >> Uh of course. >> Oh yeah, [laughter] >> ESPNFC is with you on our YouTube channel and extra time where the boys stay late to answer some of your questions. Uh be sure to have a little look. >> [music]