2023-09-28 21:04:52
Thomas Tuchel had a premonition just two days after the end of the transfer window. “We have become thinner,” explained the Bayern coach at the beginning of September. “It’s a good squad, but in some positions… a bit brave.”
With regard to the width, he added: “We have great quality in the squad, we would have liked to add even more quality, but that didn’t work out. Now it’s time to trust the squad.”
Bayern has the smallest Bundesliga squad
With just 23 players (including four goalkeepers), the German record champions have the smallest squad in the entire Bundesliga. As is well known, the attempt to increase this by one or two players shortly before the transfer window closed failed.
The signing of the “Holding Six” in the person of Fulham star Palhinha failed in the final stages and a deal with the German national player Armel Bella-Kotchap also failed to materialize. Right-backs Benjamin Pavard (to Inter Milan for 30 million euros) and Josip Stanisic (on loan to Bayer Leverkusen) left Bayern. Substitute? None!
Bayern’s squad problem became really visible for the first time in the 4-0 cup win in Münster. The squad that Tuchel recently described as “sewn on edge” reached its limits, especially in defense.
With Dayot Upamecano, Minjae Kim and Matthijs de Ligt, all three experienced central defenders were unavailable to Bayern. In an interview with ZDF, Tuchel spoke of an “extraordinary situation that three players in one position are unavailable at such short notice.”
Sarr’s substitution speaks volumes
The Bayern coach had to improvise and moved Leon Goretzka from midfield to central defense. Together with Noussair Mazraoui, the DFB star kept the center compact and closed – and helped Bayern debutant Daniel Peretz to his first clean sheet in the Bayern goal.
“They did very well. It wasn’t always easy. And I hope we don’t have to try it again. But it was also pleasant in terms of feeling that they both accepted it and immediately said: ‘We’ll do it, pull ourselves together and solve it together.’ And that’s what it looked like,” praised Tuchel on Sky.
Bayern’s personnel problems were also highlighted by the substitution of right-back Bouna Sarr, who has long since played no role in the German record champions’ plans. The Senegalese came into play for Konrad Laimer – the Austrian is currently a right-back and first backup for the midfield center.
Freund’s transfer preparations are already underway
FC Bayern’s offensive has also been weakened due to the loss of Serge Gnabry. Bayern’s new sports director Christoph Freund is aware of the squad situation, which is why preparations for the upcoming change period in winter have already started.
“We communicate on a daily basis and have a lot of quality. We discuss the winter, where we can still improve. “But the next few weeks are very important so that we have a good starting position,” he said on ZDF.
By this he certainly meant the upcoming game in Leipzig, which should be seen as an initial assessment of the situation (Saturday, from 6.30 p.m. in the SPORT1 live ticker). The Munich team have been waiting for a win against RB for three competitive games and suffered a 1:3 and 0:3 defeat in the last two meetings.
What gives Tuchel and Co. hope: Both Upamecano and Kim returned to FC Bayern team training on Thursday – and are expected to be in the center of defense again.
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