Uli Hoeneß sees FC Bayern as more stable in sporting terms than it has been for a long time. In the OMR Podcast, the honorary president talks about the new team spirit, the importance of young players and the influence of coach Vincent Kompany.
When Hoeneß talks about Bayern’s current form in the podcast, the enthusiasm is hard to ignore. With the 2:1 victory in Paris, FC Bayern sent a signal to the whole of Europe. „Our team presented an outstanding soccer match in Paris,“ says Hoeneß, who particularly emphasizes the way the record champions performed.
For Hoeneß, this performance is an expression of a development that goes far beyond a single match. The interplay of sporting quality, team spirit and clear leadership is back. „At the moment, everything is actually right. We have a very ambitious team, we have an outstanding coach and the external image is also as it should be at the moment.“
This new stability is no coincidence, but the result of a well thought-out approach, with Kompany in particular embodying the modern Bayern approach, which is based on courage, clarity and footballing development.
The new Bayern way: smaller squad, more confidence, genuine identification
A major topic in the podcast is the much-discussed squad size. Critics have repeatedly questioned FC Bayern’s supposedly too small squad. Hoeneß clearly disagrees and explains why the slimmer squad is actually an advantage.
„At the moment, I have to say that the opposite is the case,“ he says. Instead of unrest and excess supply, there is clarity, identification and competition. And that is precisely the basis for Munich’s strong form.
One key to this is Kompany’s consistent promotion of young players. Names like Tom Bischoff, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Lennart Karl represent the new face of Bayern. For Hoeneß, this has a special significance – both in footballing and emotional terms.
„He doesn’t moan, but brings in youngsters like Karl or Bischoff.“ But even more important for Hoeneß is the coach’s attitude: „He’s like a mother hen who protects the players wonderfully and still teaches them everything on the training pitch. And the most important thing about him is that he makes every player better.“
Hoeneß sees this further development of each individual as the core reason why Bayern is currently regaining its strength. Kompany’s work ensures that the team is more homogeneous and is once again developing a common energy.
A new cohesion – and the return of the old Bayern mentality
Hoeneß is particularly impressed by the spirit in the team. There is finally calm again, a „wagon castle“, as he calls it. Hardly any background noise, hardly any internal conflicts – instead focus, identification and, above all, a coaching team that takes responsibility instead of looking for excuses.
The honorary president sums it up with a sentence that sounds like a new Bayern motto: „We have relatively few players who don’t identify one hundred percent with this club.“
According to Hoeneß, it is precisely this core that makes FC Bayern look like a real title contender again – both nationally and internationally.