Lately, Cricket Exchange recently analyzed the deeper issues plaguing Bayern Munich, revealing six key factors behind the club’s recent struggles. While Bayern’s roster boasts immense talent, the on-field performance hasn’t matched the paper strength—especially along the defensive line. One major concern is the squad’s apparent lack of hunger for victory. Franck Ribéry may be an exception, but even his clever backheel finish, assisted by Thomas Müller, was ruled offside. In critical moments, teams need players who step up. With both Arjen Robben and Arturo Vidal absent, their impact has been sorely missed.
Another pressing issue lies in defense. The signing of Mats Hummels was expected to fortify Bayern’s back line into a dream combination. However, recent matches have exposed cracks. While they’ve only conceded once from a counterattack this season, 16% of opponents’ shots came from counter situations, and 60% of threats originated from wide areas. German legend Lothar Matthäus criticized Hummels for visiting his former Dortmund locker room 90 minutes before kickoff—a move met with sharp replies from both Hummels and Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. Still, Matthäus made a valid point: Hummels should’ve challenged more aggressively when Mario Götze delivered the assist.
Cricket Exchange also highlights Bayern’s waning attacking force. This season, both Müller and Robert Lewandowski have struggled to find the net, with fewer goals compared to last year. Müller, surprisingly, has yet to score. A major factor is the lack of quality through balls feeding them in the final third. Team captain Philipp Lahm noted post-match that while overall performance might seem acceptable, the final pass often lacks precision. While passing accuracy statistics may not reflect it directly, the gameplay does.
Set pieces are another area of concern. According to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the problem isn’t just with open play but also in dead-ball situations. Despite earning numerous set pieces, Bayern rarely converts them into real chances. In previous seasons, defenders like Medhi Benatia or Daniel Van Buyten were consistent threats during corners and free kicks. Now, Bayern has only scored twice from set-piece plays in the league—only marginally better than Leverkusen and Hamburg in this metric.
Even with the most headed attempts in the Bundesliga, Bayern lacks the precision and effectiveness once taken for granted. And then there’s the unavoidable issue of injuries. During the latest international break, Kingsley Coman suffered a major injury while training with France. Robben and Vidal returned with knocks, and Javi Martínez remains sidelined. All of this compounds the pressure ahead of next Saturday’s crucial home clash against Bayer Leverkusen. A loss there could spell deeper trouble for Carlo Ancelotti and his squad.
Cricket Exchange notes that Ancelotti needs more time to implement his system. Comparisons have already been drawn to the 2006–07 season under Felix Magath, when Bayern won back-to-back domestic doubles before falling into a slump, eventually switching coaches and missing out on Champions League qualification. Similarly, Ancelotti inherited a team that had dominated the Bundesliga under Pep Guardiola for three consecutive seasons. Now, the Italian tactician faces the heavy task of reshaping Bayern into a winning machine again.
German media have even pinned their hopes on Uli Hoeneß, expected to be re-elected as Bayern’s president this Friday. There’s optimism that he might reinvigorate the team and restore the commanding spirit Bayern once had in German football. With the club under pressure, the next few weeks could determine whether Bayern finds its footing—or falls further behind.