FC Bayern’s starting eleven for the final months under coach Thomas Tuchel is crystallising. Some players have undergone an astonishing transformation. There is a slight question mark behind one veteran.
A premature parting of ways with Thomas Tuchel before the summer is no longer an issue after the successful week with the victories against Lazio Rome and Mainz.
The Bayern coach can concentrate fully on the crucial weeks in the Champions League and the Bundesliga. He has found a solid core of players to rely on. According to kicker, there are actually only two positions for the upcoming games that have not been finalised.
Captain Manuel Neuer in goal and goalscorer Harry Kane in the centre of attack are undisputed anyway. In the positions in between, the convincing games against Lazio and Mainz have resulted in some changes.
In the back four, Joshua Kimmich has now settled into the role of right-back and has shown an upward trend of late. „Josh was noticeably good today and played a great game,“ said Tuchel, praising the 29-year-old after the 8:1 win against Mainz. The coach will probably continue to deploy Kimmich in this position, especially as the alternatives Sacha Boey and Noussair Mazraoui are not fit anyway.
A new duo has established itself in central defence. New winter signing Eric Dier has transformed himself from a stopgap to an unassailable centre-back. Matthijs de Ligt did not have an easy time under Tuchel for a long time, but impressed recently and set up a goal against Lazio.
Minjae Kim, who looked overplayed after returning from the Asian Cup, will have to take his place at the back, as Tuchel explained: „It’s very difficult for Minjae, especially because he actually deserves to play and is very good. But that’s the way it is sometimes.“ The same applies to Dayot Upamecano, who got himself sent off with two consecutive dismissals.
The duel on the left side of defence is still open. With Alphonso Davies fit again, Tuchel has the option of rotating between the Canadian and Raphael Guerreiro.
New control centre Pavlovic and Goretzka
Aleksandar Pavlovic and Leon Goretzka will form the centre-back pairing for the time being. The 19-year-old Pavlovic has now even made it into the DFB team thanks to his impressive performances. Goretzka has regained his confidence as a quarter-back who drops between the centre-backs to build up attacks.
There is also no way around Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané for Tuchel when they are fit. Even with slight pain, Sané is in the starting eleven, as the Bayern coach has said several times recently.
But what to do with Mathys Tel, who is an integral part of the Bayern team of the future? One position in FCB’s attacking back three is still open. And that position has recently been occupied by veteran Thomas Müller. With two goals against Lazio and Mainz, the 34-year-old proved just how important he still is for Bayern. Or is former Bayern professional Thomas Helmer right? He told Focus: „Thomas Müller won’t play five top games in a row, he knows that himself.“
That would be the chance for Tel or Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman, who are now getting fit again after their injury breaks.
