In an era where the majority of elite football clubs in Europe are covered in huge debts, German giants Bayern Munich have had a contrasting way of staying afloat among the elite clubs. Without digging deep into their pockets to fulfill players’ wage demands, Bayern have been fairly competitive in Europe, even against clubs that spend hundreds of millions of dollars in every single transfer window. However, the record Bundesliga champions’ exit from the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage, at the hands of Spanish club Villareal, has given the club’s stature a big blow.
When Villareal – presently 7th placed in the La Liga – were drawn against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, many in Germany breathed a sigh of relief despite the fact that Unai Emery’s side had just eliminated Italian giants Juventus from the competition. Talks of a potential semi-final between Bayern and Liverpool (drawn against minnows Benfica) had already started, but little did the football world know of what fate had to unfold.
After a 1-0 defeat in the first leg, a match that could’ve seen Bayern conceding 3 or 4, against Villareal, Bayern put in a braver fight in the second leg at home. Robert Lewandowski put the club in front with his 13th goal of the season in the Champions League to bring the scores level at 1-1. However, a deadly counter-attacking goal in the 88th minute by Samuel Chukwueze turned out to be the final in the coffin for Bayern, as the Emery’s side progressed with a 2-1 aggregate scoreline.
The defeat was a shock considering the reputation of Bayern but those who have been analysing the club’s performances this season, would say that they saw this result coming.
Unai Emery is an excellent tactician, someone who has won the Europa League several times, all because of his brilliant analytical mind. He didn’t just stop Bayern from a defensive ‘low block’ in the middle but also ensured that the bombardment of crosses from wings don’t find its targets. On the counter-attack, Villareal didn’t have many chances but they converted the only opportunity in the second leg to book the semi-finals ticket.
What next for Bayern Munich?
The record 10th consecutive Bundesliga title is all but wrapped up, while Bayern have already been eliminated from the DFB Pokal (the German Cup). Champions League is what drives Die Roten the most, but the club bosses now have a few other tasks to cater to.
The contracts of Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer – three of the clubs senior-most players – are coming to an end in the summer of 2023. While Lewandowski is reportedly flirting with other clubs, probably for a better contract at Bayern, talks haven’t yet begun with Neuer and Müller.
With the trio reportedly wanting a 2 to 3-year extension, the financials involved in keeping all three of them at the club for the said period of time could be tricky for Bayern, especially because of the pandemic. Not just that, contract negotiations with Serge Gnabry, the present and future of the club at the age of 26, also wants a bigger pay package than he has been offered.
Though the likes of Kingsley Coman, Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich had recently agreed on new contracts, Bayern still have a lot of work to do in order to get the likes of Neuer, Lewandowski, Müller and Gnabry put pen to paper.
The defeat against Villareal is a reflection of how things are at Bayern. The 10th consecutive Bundesliga title won’t be enough for the Bayern bosses to consider this a successful season. With some players reportedly also being unhappy with Julian Nagelsmann’s tactics, both the present the future of the club is standing on a rocky surface.
Bayern Munich have always found ways to overcome its limitations to maintain its marquee status in Europe. With some of the superstars at the club edging closer to the end of their careers, together with the financial constraints involved in attracting the biggest of talents in European football, the ‘German Giant’ could be on the brink of a fall if it doesn’t find the required balance between financial health and competitiveness anytime soon.
