Now that Heynckes is in charge, fans expect a different and better Bayern team. Will fans get what they expect?
Bayern Munich’s board has taken a bold step. It appointed Jupp Heynckes as Carlo Ancelloti’s successor until the end of the season. Ancelloti was fired following a poor run of form that put the club’s season in danger. Heynckes has now returned to the Bundesliga giant for the fourth spell, and he’s expected to get the club’s season back on track.
Courtesy: Bundesliga Fanatic
“I wouldn’t have returned to any other club in the world, but FC Bayern Munchen are very close to my heart. My coaching staff and I will now do everything to bring back successful football for the fans. I’m very much looking forward to this challenge,” Heynckes said in a statement that was posted on Bayern website.
Jupp’s major task is to catch Borussia Dortmund at the top of the league table. To do that he must restore confidence in his players and instill a feeling of togetherness that’s missing on this squad. Heynckes claimed he has a ‘clear plan,’ which he hopes will transform the team.
It’s obvious that Bayern needs a major turnaround to save the season. And the truth is that this club hasn’t shown much since Heynckes last managed the club. My take is that he’ll try to recreate the positive atmosphere that existed when players like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm were at the club.
Courtesy: The Independent
Ancelloti was actually hired to manage the post-Guardiola transition, a move that backfired. Bayern’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain was the final straw for the Italian. But I think Bayern’s problem could be attributed to lack of major investment in the squad rather than a managerial issue.
Experience and quality are there, but the team was in decline under Ancelotti. They didn’t press high enough in the opposition half, lacked pace and mobility to attack teams in the final third, and weren’t in the defensive shape required in Ancelloti’s high defensive line.
Perhaps the biggest worrying point is that Heynckes has inherited an aging squad. The likes of Ribery, Muller, and Robben are in their thirties, and I don’t think they have the legs to play at the highest level.
On top of all of this, Heynckes’ appointment raised eyebrows. There are concerns that he has been out of the game for too long and might have lost touch with modern day tactics. And, at 72, some question whether he has the mental and physical strength to carry out a high-stress job.
Heynckes has played down those concerns, but it remains to be seen how he’ll attend to the fix without investing during the January transfer window.
The plain fact is that this squad needs depth on all fronts.
Heynckes first hurdles are winning a home League game against Freiburg and following that up with a win against Celtic in The Champions League. The outcomes of those games will determine this club’s fate.
There’s no doubt that Heynckes has a strong personality and is extremely popular among Bayern faithful. Now that Heynckes is in charge, fans expect a different and better Bayern team — a team full of hunger with a desire to win.
Will fans get what they expect? We’ll know the answer soon.
