Bayern Munich outsmarts their defensive strategy with commendable mindset.
After their triumphant 3:2 victory over Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich players and personnel celebrated, praising the club's revitalized mindset. However, the three points gained signaled anxiety in Munich's defensive department.
Nestled beside the Mittelland Canal, where the four brick stacks of the VW factory embodied the soul of the old federation, the season's most exhilarating tournament in European football commenced on this particular Sunday. Vincent Kompany, a 38-year-old Belgian, was assigned to revive Germany's record champions, whose slide to second place in the Bundesliga under Thomas Tuchel was a recent occurrence.
The coach, affectionately referred to as "Tuchel's young cousin" by the "Süddeutsche Zeitung," breezed onto the Bundesliga stage with a 3:2 (1:0) triumph against VfL Wolfsburg. This was the record champions' second consecutive victory against the team from East Lower Saxony. In the past 19 league matches, the team had won 17 times and drawn twice.
However, what initially appeared promising in the first half soon turned into an inferno at the start of the second half. Defensive mistakes from Sacha Boey and Minjae Kim granted Wolfsburg control, which wasn't recovered until Thomas Müller's entry into the game. With a touch of luck, they managed to secure victory on that late August day.
High Pressure Disorders Bayern Early On
It was three points against turmoil, but even sports director Christoph Freund couldn't ignore the unease in the underground tunnels. Bayern's defense looked shaky in the few moments when Wolfsburg pressed them intensely.
What had been suggested in the first half, with Kim and Dayot Upamecano displaying nervousness in pressuring scenarios, became evident early in the second half on the scoreboard. The combination of Boey's penalty-worthy foul, Kim's reckless ball loss leading to the 1:2, and Upamecano's inaccurate pass shortly after reached its zenith. Thankfully, it didn't result in any major consequences.
"We were quite content with the squad," Freund admitted in the depths of Wolfsburg. "But of course, we now have two injured players, which we have noticed, and there isn't much more we can do defensively." The transfer window remained open for another five days.
Midfield Congestion
Under the direction of sports director Max Eberl, Bayern had already made significant moves this summer. Josip Stanisic had joined from Leverkusen, while Hiroki Ito came from Stuttgart. Both defenders were injured. Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui had moved to Manchester United. The squad was thin due to Jonathan Tah still not moving from Leverkusen to Bayern. The non-transfer had also chilled the relationship between the champions and record-breakers.
Since Joshua Kimmich couldn't serve as a right-back and Austrian Konrad Laimer was also earmarked for the center, along with Joao Palhinha (not used in Wolfsburg), Leon Goretzka, and youngster Aleksandar Pavlović, Bayern had an oversupply in midfield and fewer options in defense. The more aggressive the approach, the stronger the players. The defensive lapses in Wolfsburg only fueled more questions.
Seasonal Tasks of Staggering Proportions
The Munich side faced monumental challenges this season. They aimed not only to restore the old hierarchy in German football but also to contest the Champions League final, dubbed "Dahoam 2.0," at the end of May 2025 within their city's confines.
The last remaining members of the squad, Müller and Neuer, were contracted until the end of the season. Leroy Sané, Kimmich, and left-back Alphonso Davies had also listed the end of the season as their departure date from Munich. It remained undetermined what the future held. Jamal Musiala was also only committed until 2026. This season was also about introducing new faces to FC Bayern, with many old ones likely to become extinct soon. Possibly, world-class players Neuer and Müller would remain for another year. Possibly not. "If we manage to complete the season with the new coaching team and renewed vigor, then it's also enjoyable for me, and if the fun is there, then it will surely persist for me," Neuer declared in a Kicker interview published just hours before the season opener in Wolfsburg.
A Matter of Mindset
The essence of enjoyment. No one wishes to surrender it this season. They don't want to witness Leverkusen nearly mockingly claiming the championship trophy once again, nor suffer eight defeats anew. The opening-day defeat, which they only narrowly avoided in Wolfsburg, was greeted with accolades for their determination, resilience, and delight in success. "The attitude, the indispensable foundation, was truly excellent at the end," Müller commented after his 709th appearance. Harry Kane stated on ESPN: "Last year, we frequently led, then relinquished the lead and never truly recovered. We did that today."
To begin with, Ralph Hasenhüttl's Wolfsburg didn't pose much of a threat to the reigning champions at the game's outset. They struggled with passing accuracy, managing just 66 successful passes out of 100 attempts within the first 40 minutes. None of these attempts put the record champions in a tight spot. The audience mirrored this lackluster performance, failing to create an intimidating atmosphere. Following the game, Hasenhüttl voiced his displeasure over the passive audience.
The Wolfsburg players weren't able to break through either. When they attempted to advance through the center, they stumbled upon defensive midfielders Kimmich (on the right) and Pavlovic (on the left). These two DFB titans collected the balls in the defense, setting the tempo for the game. Musiala also found himself between the defense line frequently. Wolfsburg's only chance at halftime hinged on Bayern's potential collapse. This self-destructive behavior of Bayern provided additional concerns for FC Bayern just before the close of the transfer window.
The Bundesliga's Veteran Heart Remains Pumping
The match against Bayern Munich's janitors almost resulted in a disaster. Müller nearly rescued it with his insane antics one more time. A comeback was a possibility, a scenario perhaps unattainable for them last year under Tuchel. However, this season is not meant to serve as a benchmark for Kompany's new team. Despite their improved offensive capabilities and the early influence of new signing Michael Olise, the defensive line's composition remains a challenging area for Kompany.
Coming up, Kompany faces significant challenges. Despite acknowledging the positive aspects of the game, he recognized the potential danger of conceding early in the second half. "I'm quite satisfied with the first half, a solid foundation to build on," he said. "It's naive to assume an easy game once the opponent scores in the opening minutes of the second half. Ultimately, I'd like to acknowledge the extraordinary effort of the team." The mainstay of German football continues to tick, although its rhythm may not be as thrilling as Leverkusen's.
After Vincent Kompany's appointment, there was anticipation around Bayern's defensive department. Despite Harry Kane's praise for Bayern's resilience after the Wolfsburg game, the record champions' defense remained a concern.
During the match against Wolfsburg, Vincent Kompany noticed the potential for early conceding in the second half, a situation Bayern had to deal with frequently last season under Thomas Tuchel.
