Dissatisfaction is growing at FC Bayern following the team’s recent loss of points. After the 2-2 draw against FC Augsburg and the 3-3 tie at Viking Stavanger, sporting director Max Eberl spoke out clearly. The 52-year-old not only criticized the numerous mistakes but also questioned the team’s concentration and commitment. But who exactly is the Bayern boss referring to?
“That’s not the level our team is capable of. Our team is capable of a different level, and we’re not bringing that to the field right now,” Eberl explained. His point wasn’t that the players weren’t giving it their all. Rather, he’s bothered by the fact that the Munich team keeps getting itself into trouble time and again due to individual mistakes.
The sporting director was particularly clear when discussing the goals conceded. “It can always happen, but right now it’s just happening to us too often,” he emphasized. When such mistakes pile up, you can no longer attribute it solely to bad luck: “When it happens that often, at some point it’s not just bad luck—it’s also a matter of concentration.”
The Bayern boss is also critical of the team’s behavior during their own attacks. Not every player should focus exclusively on the offense.
“When we’re on the attack, not everyone has to be involved in shaping the attack—there are also those who have to make sure we don’t get caught on the counterattack,” Eberl explained.
Marcel Reif recognizes a recurring pattern
Soccer expert Marcel Reif also takes a critical view of the team’s recent performances. On the show *Bei Reif ist live*, he made it clear that the mistakes shouldn’t be viewed in isolation. “This isn’t about any one individual; rather, when individual mistakes happen repeatedly by different players, it becomes a pattern,” Reif explained.
He pointed to the various weaknesses in recent matches. Against Schalke, Bayern lacked offensive punch; against Augsburg, the defense was vulnerable. In the match in Stavanger as well, the team failed to impress offensively in the first half while also making major defensive errors.
“And here, they weren’t good enough offensively. The first half was a complete wash—simply not good enough. And defensively, it was hair-raising when you look at all the goals they conceded,” Reif concluded.
For Reif, the problem therefore runs deeper than a single lapse: “With a rotating lineup and different approaches, the guys are making mistakes at this level.”
The criticism applies to the entire Bayern squad
While individual mistakes—including an early error by Manuel Neuer against Augsburg—drew particular attention, the problems cannot be solved simply by benching a specific player. Rather, the entire team needs to play with greater focus and consistency again.
Eberl’s comments should therefore be seen primarily as a warning to the entire squad. The Munich team must reduce their error rate, provide better cover during their own attacks, and remain focused throughout the entire game.
It is therefore impossible to deduce exactly who Eberl was referring to with his comments. One thing is clear, however: those in charge are expecting a response. For Bayern, the key is to learn from these recurring mistakes—and to prevent avoidable losses of points from turning into a larger competitive problem.