- Escalating title contest tension: Munich no longer reigns as clear front-runner
Fading faith in the previous dominator, rising admiration for the present reigner - Bayern Munich isn't the undisputed favorite heading into the fresh season anymore. Unlike preceding years that generally suggested Munich, the predictions for this campaign are more ambiguous, leaning towards an unpredictable title chase. This was the conclusion drawn from a poll conducted by the German Press Agency (dpa) among the elite tier of German football.
The shocking defeat of Bayern, following eleven straight titles, at the hands of the invincible Leverkusen throughout the campaign, has altered the outlook and ignited excitement for the upcoming season, which commences on Friday (20:30 CET) with the new league frontrunner's duel in Mönchengladbach. "Perhaps we possess the most thrilling league in Europe right now," commented Dortmund's sporting director Lars Ricken.
Although the now former league champions FC Bayern are deemed the primary title contenders by many coaches and sporting directors from the poll, they're facing renewed competition from Leverkusen. "I believe that Bayer Leverkusen will manage to retain their championship. The squad led by Xabi Alonso exhibits exceptional strength and vigor on the field. But the competition will eventually catch up," prognosticated Wolfsburg's football manager Ralph Hasenhüttl.
A two-team title competition?
Similar sentiments are shared by his peers Julian Schuster (SC Freiburg) and Marcel Rapp (Holstein Kiel). "Bayer Leverkusen were justly crowned German champion last season. I anticipate them to be in the hunt once more this year," commented Schuster, who succeeded Streich.
Though Ricken favors Bayern, he sees Leverkusen as their equal, despite the more challenging predicament: "There is a different expectation in Leverkusen now. But no one expects them not to perform at the highest level." Importantly, neither Stuttgart's runners-up nor the heavily reinforced Dortmund were identified as potential title favorites.
Regardless of the 18-point disparity at the season's end, the majority still anticipates a restoration of the traditional power hierarchy: "Bayern Munich - they will undoubtedly be highly driven to prevent the title from slipping away again," declared Mainz's coach Bo Henriksen.
Similar responses were given by Jess Thorup (FC Augsburg), Bo Svensson (Union Berlin), Alexander Blessin (St. Pauli), Dino Toppmoeller (Eintracht Frankfurt), and Pellegrino Matarazzo (TSG Hoffenheim), who all view Vincent Kompany's team as the top contender. Bayern's sporting director Simon Rolfes happily shifted the responsibility onto their biggest competitor: "Bayern Munich consistently enters each race as the favorite."
Ready for battle
Characteristically aggressive, Uli Hoeness, Munich's honorary president, addressed the players personally: "Those Bayern players who didn't clinch the title are all restless and eager to prove that it was just a momentary lapse. I'm extremely confident that we'll be back at the pinnacle next year."
Julian Schuster, the new manager at SC Freiburg, joins the chorus of optimism towards Bayer Leverkusen's title contention this season. He shares his belief that Leverkusen, under Xabi Alonso's leadership, will be competing for the championship again.
Following the poll conducted by dpa, Julian Schuster, along with Marcel Rapp from Holstein Kiel, voiced their support for Bayer Leverkusen's title challenge, acknowledging their strength and potential to retain the championship.
