The recent Bavarian derby between Bayern Munich and Augsburg highlighted the potential weaknesses of the league leaders. While they dominated the game offensively, scoring five goals, their defensive performance was lackluster and riddled with mistakes. It was fortunate for Bayern that Augsburg failed to capitalize on the opportunities presented to them.
Bayern Munich had set up a training camp after the World Cup in Qatar. Now they have returned from their training camp in Doha with several games coming up for them. Next week they would be facing RB Leipzig. The team has probably been training for these upcoming competitions and it is hoped that the players would be in form.
Bayern Munich are unstoppable at the moment in the German Bundesliga and another league title is on the horizon for the European champions. Bayern Munich have won the last eight league titles in the Bundesliga and a ninth successive league title is not far off after the Bavarian giantsextended their lead at the summit with a convincing win over TSG Hoffenheim at home. Bayern Munich were able to avenge the defeat they sufferedat the hands of TSG Hoffenheim earlier in the season.
Bayern Munich defender David Alaba has acknowledged that he could pursue a fresh challenge away from the Bundesliga outfit in the future with Spain and England being suitable destinations for him. The Austria international has spent his entire career with the Bavarian giants and has racked nearly 350 appearances for the club across all competitions.
Speaking to SportBild, Alaba said that he is currently comfortable at the Munich giants where he has been the undisputed choice on the left side of the defence. However, he added that he does not see himself spending the rest of his career with the German champions, he told: “I can imagine trying something else, but I really feel very comfortable at Bayern. Every year there are new challenges and new objectives and the pressure will always be there. I’m happy in Munich. But of course, I can imagine seeing something else [in the future].”
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said that Bayern Munich have been disrespectful to the Blues after going public with their interest in signing Callum Hudson-Odoi this month. The 18-year-old has barely featured in the Premier League this term but he has still caught the attention of the Bavarian giants after showing promise in the Cup and European competitions.
Speaking ahead of the Newcastle game on Saturday, Sarri highlighted that Bayern have been rather unprofessional with the pursuit of the Blues graduate. The Italian added that he has no idea regarding the future of the teenager, although he would personally prefer the Englishman staying put with the club.
Bayern Munich head coach Niko Kovac has said that the German top-flight has become much stronger this term which has contributed to the Bavarian giants’ struggles to reach the top. The Munich heavyweights have won the Bundesliga crown in each of the previous six seasons but they face a tricky task of replicating the feat with Borussia Dortmund holding a six-point advantage over them at the summit.
Speaking to Bayern’s official website, Kovac admitted that Bayern had made a slow start to the current campaign but they have managed to find form right before the winter break with five successive league wins. He added that their challenge has also been hampered by the better competition between the teams with Dortmund suffering just the one defeat to date.
Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac has said that the team need to improve on the decision-making after squandering the opportunity to secure another victory. Serge Gnabry’s 80th-minute strike appeared to have earned Bayern the three points against Freiburg last weekend but they were pegged back nine minutes later after a poor bit of judgement at the back allowed Lucas Holer to grab the equaliser.
With the stalemate, the reigning champions find themselves four points behind league leaders Borussia Dortmund and Kovac was certainly not pleased with the result after failing to shut up shop towards the end of the game, he told the club’s official website: “We got off to a good start, we were very flexible, moved well and let the ball do the work. We tried to attack down the wings, but it was difficult because they doubled up on us.
The outlook for German football doesn’t appear as good as it should right now. After a disappointing World Cup performance by the national team and further disappointment in the Nations League since then, they are no longer at the top of the international tree.
After winning the World Cup in 2014, many players retired from the national team and it was now time to blood new youngsters in, hoping that they would take the baton and keep Germany on top of the world. However, they have failed to do that, and the performance at the 2018 World Cup was a glaring reminder of just how much work the Germans have to do over the coming months and years.
Niko Kovac is more than capable of ending the alarming dip in form experienced by Bayern Munich, according to club president Uli Hoeness. Bayern Munich made a strong start to life under Kovac with multiple wins under their belt, but the team now happens to be without a win in the last four matches. The biggest worry for Bayern will be the heavy 3-0 loss suffered at home against Borussia Mönchengladbach, who have not experienced such a success against Bayern Munich in recent memory. Now, the team will have to try and recover from this disastrous run after the international break.
Bayern Munich have all to do immediately after the international break since they are away from home in four consecutive games across different competitions.Kovac has received the backing from Bayern Munich for the time being, asHoeness claims that the manager will be supported irrespective of the outcome in the next few weeks.Kovac came to Bayern Munich only in the summer and he has been seen as the future of the club after taking over from interim manager Jupp Heynckes. After having made a positive start to the campaign,Kovac has been struggling big-time in recent matches and the manner of the defeats has raised questions about the club.
Former Everton and Sunderland manager David Moyes has urged Jordan Pickford to snub the ongoing speculation with Bayern Munich and concentrate on the Premier League season ahead. The 24-year-old became the youngest Englishman ever to keep a clean sheet during the recent World Cup and his efforts have caught the eye of the Bavarian giants.
Speaking to The Sun, Moyes has stressed that the Toffees are the right club for Pickford at the moment and he should earn further experience within Premier League surroundings before considering a move abroad, he said: “I think Everton is the right club for Jordan. It’s a big club, he’s only just moved and I would say to him it would be stupid to even consider another move if there was to be an option for him. I think it will help him being at Everton because he will get enough work and he’s got a chance to develop without every single thing he does being scrutinised. He is still young and he just needs to keep getting his games in. The last thing he needs to bother about is any speculation.”