FC Bayern isn’t really hitting its stride right now. After a 2-2 draw against FC Augsburg, the Munich team also had to settle for a 3-3 tie against Viking Stavanger in the Champions League. Lothar Matthäus, who holds the record for most appearances on the German national team, sees several areas needing improvement at the German record champions and singles out Michael Olise in particular.
On the BILD show “Lothar Loves It,” the 65-year-old expressed disappointment with the performance of Vincent Kompany’s team. He criticized not only defensive lapses but also the team’s lack of cutting edge against compact opponents.
“Right now, I don’t see any spark of creativity against a team that sits deep,” Matthäus explained. This problem had already become apparent in the Bundesliga.
“It was like that at Schalke, and at times in Augsburg—we don’t have the consistent solution up front to score goals.”
Matthäus Criticizes Bayern’s Transition Play
The TV analyst was particularly blunt in his analysis of the second goal conceded against Stavanger.
After Munich lost possession, Peter Christiansen was able to sprint across the field virtually unchallenged and score to make it 2-0.
“You could see exactly where the weakness lies, especially on the 2-0 goal. After losing possession, it’s the poor transition play—there’s no cover at the back,” Matthäus criticized.
For the former Bayern captain, it’s clear that Munich must, above all, improve their defensive organization.
“He didn’t just hurt himself”
Michael Olise also faced sharp criticism. After being provoked, the Frenchman threw the ball in his opponent’s face and was shown a yellow-red card. “You could even call that a red card. Ultimately, he didn’t just hurt himself—he hurt the team above all,” Matthäus clarified.
The 1990 World Cup champion urged Olise to handle provocations more calmly in the future. “We know he can decide games on his own. So, of course, opponents will try everything they can to throw him off his game,” Matthäus explained.
He sees this precisely as the next step in the offensive star’s development: “That’s the next step he needs to take—learning to deal with these provocations, especially in his case.”
It’s particularly bitter for Bayern: Olise will be suspended and miss the upcoming Champions League match against Arsenal FC following his red card.