Bayern Munich go into the second half of the season with an 11-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga and as favourites to secure a sixth consecutive league title.
Having already disposed of Red Bull Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund to draw third-division Paderborn in the German cup, and with a relatively favourable draw against Besiktas in the Champions League, things look good for the Bavarians on all fronts.
Nevertheless, it’s not been the smoothest of rides this season and question marks remain ahead of their trip to rejuvenated Bayer Leverkusen on Friday …
Jupp Heynckes
Since coming out of retirement to replace Carlo Ancelotti in October, 72-year-old treble-winning legend Jupp Heynckes has rolled back the years and presided over an astonishing run of 15 wins and only one defeat in 16 games. But despite club president Uli Hoeneß’ wish that his friend continues into 2019, Heynckes insists that his return to Bayern is only a temporary favour. So who’s next? After Pep Guardiola and Ancelotti, the Bayern bosses would prefer a German-speaking coach to embody the “Mia San Mia” (we are who we are) philosophy of the club, but their options are limited.
Rumours of interest in young Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann have persisted throughout the season. The 30-year-old Bavarian is one of Germany’s brightest young coaching prospects but has a contract at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim until 2021. Bayern wouldn’t balk at the five million euro buy-out clause but Borussia Dortmund are also said to be interested when their own temporary arrangement with Peter Stöger ends. What’s more, after a disappointing Europa League exit, doubts remain over Nagelsmann’s European experience.
Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp and RB Leipzig’s Ralph Hasenhüttl have also been mentioned but neither has shown any intention of leaving their current clubs. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nico Kovac, who made 34 Bundesliga appearances for Bayern between 2001 and 2003, would be a surprise choice. Former Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel certainly has the pedigree and experience to manage Bayern but Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge are said to have been put off by the personal disagreements which lead to the 44-year-old’s BVB exit.
German World Cup winning coach Joachim Löw’s name has also been thrown into the ring but, with his last experience of club management coming at Austria Vienna in 2004, has he been out of club football for too long?
Sandro Wagner
As Bayern limped towards Christmas with hard-fought 1-0 wins over Frankfurt, Cologne and Stuttgart, questions were asked about the team’s reliance on Robert Lewandowski, the only out-and-out striker at the club who scored 43 goals in 47 games last season.
In response, Bayern have snapped up veteran German striker Sandro Wagner (30) from Hoffenheim to provide support for the Polish superstar. The 6ft 4in target man left Bayern in 2008 but, after a relatively undistinguished career, is enjoying an Indian summer. Impressive goal tallies for Darmstadt (15) and Hoffenheim (18) in recent seasons earned Wagner a call-up to Joachim Löw’s squad for the Confederations Cup and a 13-million-euro move back to Bayern.
Whether Wagner and Lewandowski, two similar players, can play up front together remains to be seen.
Leon Goretzka
German media reported on New Year’s Eve that Bayern had completed the signing of highly-rated Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka, but the reports were furiously denied by Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel.
“Bayern keep saying that Leon is a Schalke player but then they keep talking about a Schalke player more than their own players!” complained Heidel, who insists he can still convince the German international to stay in Gelsenkirchen. “We don’t need Bayern to tell us how good our player is!”
Goretzka, who missed six of Schalke’s last eight games before Christmas with a shin bone injury, resumed training during the Royal Blues’ winter training camp in Benidorm.
