Flick's revival: Bayern silence h8ers

        In the torrential Bremen rain on Tuesday night, Hansi Flick and Bayern Munich resumed this glittering chapter in the club’s history, clinching their 8^th league title in a row. Robert Lewandowski’s first half strike proved enough to see off relegation threatened Werder Bremen and seal Meisterschale number 30 for Germany’s most decorated side. Bayern Munich have monopolized the Bundesliga in recent years, and whilst some have grown tired of their superiority, it’s hard to be exhausted by their entertaining brand of football. An innovative back-heel goal by Bastian Schweinsteiger at Eintracht Frankfurt on 6^th April 2013 opened the flood gates for an onslaught of Bayern Munich dominance. Since that day, the German title hasn’t shifted from within the Allianz Arena’s congested trophy room. Bayern had previously shared the record for the most consecutive titles won with Borussia Monchengladbach, both sides bagged three-in-a-row back in the 1970’s. This current run has smashed the record and judging by how ruthless Munich have looked this term, specifically under Hansi Flick, ten is a very realistic target.

            Between 2012/13 and the end of last season (2018/19) Bayern Munich have a win percentage of just over 75% in all competitions, with 277 wins from 367 competitive matches. With 16 pieces of silverware in this period, Munich have averaged a trophy every 22.93 games. Jupp Heynckes kickstarted this remarkable run back in 2012/13 when he led the Bavarian’s to the treble. Pep Guardiola came in to steer Bayern to a further three titles before Carlo Ancelotti added to his stunning cv with a Bundesliga title of his own the following season. Ancelotti only lasted until September of the next campaign before Munich sought change and brought back Jupp Heynckes to keep the run going with a 6^th Bundesliga in as many years. Heynckes was replaced by Niko Kovac for the 2018/19 campaign, fresh off the back of a DFB-Pokal upset win over his new club with Eintracht Frankfurt. Despite securing the club’s 7^th title in this run, Kovac couldn’t progress past the round-of-16 in the Champions League and after a poor start in his second season (this year) was relieved of his duties. A 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt sealed Kovac’s fate as Bayern’s head coach and within two days Hansi Flick had been handed the keys to this star-studded side. They never looked back…

            Whilst Lewandowski’s wonderful finish on Tuesday night mathematically ended any late Dortmund rally for the Meisterschale, there were numerous points either side of the league’s resumption that can be considered a defining moment in this historic year. Back in December, after back-to-back 4-0 victories (over Dortmund and Fortuna Dusseldorf), the then-interim Hansi Flick followed up his impressive start with successive 2-1 defeats against Leverkusen and Monchengladbach. The loss to Gladbach saw Bayern slip down to 7^th in the table, seven-points adrift from the leaders. Defeat the following weekend would almost certainly terminate Flick’s time in the Bayern dugout. Consequently, a resounding 6-1 win over Werder Bremen ‘flicked’ the switch in Munich. Bayern’s demolition of Werder began a 21-game undefeated domestic streak. A Philippe Coutinho hat-trick sent Bayern on their way in the emphatic victory against Bremen, a game which had initially seen the champions go a goal down. Bayern cruised through the beginning of 2020, banging in 9-goals and conceding none throughout January. Just days before a business meeting with Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge, a potential banana skin appeared before them in the most unexpected form. Bottom club SC Paderborn were frustrating the German giants on their own patch, holding them at 2-2. It took an 88^th minute strike by Robert Lewandowski to spare Bayern blushes and renew their narrow lead of just one-point at the top of the table. By the time the league resumed after the brief covid-19 break, Bayern held a four-point lead over rivals Borussia Dortmund. The challengers weren’t too phased by the absence of their ‘Yellow Wall’, disposing of Schalke 4-0 at home then Wolfsburg 2-0 away the following weekend. Bayern comfortably saw off Union Berlin in their return before hosting Eintracht Frankfurt in their first game back home. 3-0 up and cruising with around 40-minutes left, Bayern were caught napping defensively and two quick-fire goals, both Martin Hinteregger headers, both from corners, suddenly had Bayern on the back-foot. Some miscommunication amongst the Frankfurt centre-back pairing then gifted Alphonso Davies a terrific chance to reinstate a cushioned lead for Bayern, one which he lapped up. Hinteregger later rounded-up a bizarre fixture by netting a hat-trick of sorts, this time beyond his own keeper. During a very brief window in Bayern’s 5-2 victory, Frankfurt could have exploited an extremely uncharacteristic Munich defence and reduced the champions lead at the summit of the Bundesliga table. Bayern had to quickly regroup and resolve any defensive woes, as three days later they headed into North Rhine-Westphalia for a potential title-swaying showdown with their arch-rivals and challengers Borussia Dortmund. With a little help from a rather lethargic Dortmund midfield and a goal shy Erling Haaland up top, Munich soon asserted their dominance. Prior to this huge midweek fixture, Hansi Flick, never one for outlandish remarks, insisted that three-points for his men would not ensure a 30^th Bayern title. Flick’s comments were as conservative as Bayern’s opening performance. Unfazed, Munich let Dortmund have their say in the opening half an hour, allowing Lucien Favre’s side to pile the pressure. As half-time approached an exquisite chip from Bayern defensive-midfielder Joshua Kimmich broke the deadlock. Bayern lay waiting like a bear trap, a trap that Dortmund walked right into. Kimmich’s lobbed effort went completely against the run of play but nonetheless a deserved lead for a patient Munich. Victory in Der Klassiker stretched the gap between the clubs to seven-points with just six league fixtures left to play. A home win could have clawed Dortmund back into the running and made for a far more intense title race. Credit to Dortmund, who continued to overpower their remaining opponents as they awaited any form of a Bayern Munich slip-up. No such thing would happen. As Flick’s men closed in on number eight, Borussia Monchengladbach (with their own Champions League aspirations in sight) were the next side to try and topple the giants. Last Saturday, Marco Rose’s Gladbach turned in one of their most admirable performances as they attempted to exit Bavaria with something to offer in their chase for 4^th place. After a dominant start to the game, Gladbach had a point to show for their efforts. A first half Benjamin Pavard own goal had cancelled out a rare Joshua Zirkzee goal following a calamitous blunder from Gladbach keeper Yann Sommer. As stoppage time approached, Gladbach minutes away from a valuable point, Leon Goretzka popped up in the six-yard box to turn in a last-gasp winner for the home side. Roars from the Bayern midfielder rung around the eerily empty Allianz Arena as his goal stole all three-points to set up the potential title clinching clash at Werder midweek. When we explore the archives in years from now, Lewandowski’s 31^st goal of the season will be remembered for officially confirming title number thirty, but the season is a marathon not a sprint. Coutinho’s hat-trick to save Hansi’s skin, Kimmich’s lob to keep Dortmund at bay, Goretzka’s last minute elation to kill off Gladbach. From the moment Hansi Flick announced his first eleven to the moment that ball left Lewandowski’s right foot and nestled into the Bremen net, Bayern Munich’s consistent professionalism can be credited as much as any individual ability for continuing this historic run.

Despite the January inclusion of Alvaro Odriozola on-loan from Real Madrid, this Bayern unit is the made up of the same personnel Niko Kovac had been instructing at the beginning of November. This squad has been inundated with talent throughout the transition of management, perhaps more so (considering injuries) when Kovac was at the helm. Hansi Flick has installed a never say die attitude to this squad. His comments, that the Klassiker wouldn’t seal the title, gave us a more in-depth look at Flick’s competitive mindsight. The most important fixture is the next one. Those eight years working under Joachim Loew as Assistant Manager for the national team have prepared him to deal with the toughest of competition. Bayern have the ‘next man up’ mentality that is essential for a club with such high standards. The squad depth at Munich is unrivalled in Germany, perhaps Europe. Since the restart we are yet to see Niklas Sule, Philippe Coutinho or Corentin Tolisso and have rarely seen Lucas Hernandez or Thiago. Alphonso Davies has established himself as one of the most desirable full backs in world football since the start of 2020. Hansi Flick has had no doubts in Davies’ ability, throwing him right in the deep end and mobilizing David Alaba into a centre half role. Alaba hasn’t looked out of place yet, adjusting to his new position as easily as one could ask for. The inclusion of Alaba at central defence has breathed new life into Jerome Boateng’s Bayern career who had previously been a shoo-in to leave Munich and find pastures new upon the conclusion of this season. With Alaba’s ‘inexperience’ in the role, Boateng was handed a new purpose, to mould his teammate into a natural centre half. Although Alaba now sits deeper, he is still allowed to utilize his ball-playing skills. Hansi Flick has built relationships with each of his players, each one built on trust. If Alaba does roam further than intended, Kimmich will sit and allow the Austrian to do so. In the centre of the pitch, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka have performed as though they’ve accompanied one another for years. Kimmich, previously a right back, has the defensive minded nature to sit and fortify the middle of the park, which in turn allows Goretzka to push on and chip in with goals and assists. Although Thiago is an exceptionally gifted player, the Kimmich/Goretzka pairing has been so consistent, it’s difficult to justify dropping either to allow Thiago back in. As iron sharpens iron, Bayern’s perfect blend of experience and youth have helped one another in different aspects. Thomas Muller, for so long the workhorse of the unit, has offered yet another top-class year. However, in the rare cases he found himself fatigued, respite was on hand from youngsters Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman or Mickael Cuisance. Bayern’s depth as well as a few areas of blatant superiority, could be considered the difference between the Bavarians and their North-West rivals Borussia Dortmund. As impressive as Dortmund have been this season, they couldn’t afford to lose talent such as Coutinho or Thiago in their midfield. One does wonder just how big the gap between themselves and Flick’s men might have been if Haaland hadn’t been drafted in during the January transfer window.

Bayern have two-weeks to celebrate this feat, albeit with no visible supporters, but Hansi Flick’s mission isn’t done. Their meeting with Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal is scheduled for Saturday 4^th July in Berlin. The treble is still in sight for Bayern after Uefa announced their intention to complete the 2019/20 Champions League in August. Already 3-0 up from their Round-of-16 first leg with Chelsea, Hansi Flick looks set to progress further than his predecessor Kovac did last season. Current holders, Liverpool, were knocked out by Atletico Madrid just before covid-19 interrupted football organisations across Europe. Bayern must be considered one of the favourites for European glory given their dazzling displays since football was introduced back into our lives. The French football association called it quits on Ligue 1 and handed PSG the league title shortly after football was suspended. Meaning that the French champions, who knocked out Dortmund and were one of the bookmaker’s favourites to end their European torment, won’t have played competitive football in five months by the time they take to the field again. No matter how Hansi Flick fares in the Champions League this August, chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has backed the former Bayern midfielder. In April, Flick was rewarded for the turnaround he had masterminded with a new contract through to the 2023 campaign. Barring any drastic change in results, 55-year-old Hansi Flick will be in charge for a period which could see Bayern Munich become the only team in Europe’s top five leagues to win ten consecutive league titles.

Bayern’s 8^th league title was met with criticism. Not about Flick’s revival or Bayern’s performances but of the league’s predictability. Ironically these same supporters have shunned the growth of R.B. Leipzig, claiming that the manufactured success following the investment by energy drink tycoons RedBull goes against football’s morals. It’s hard to please those who want the Bayern dynasty to die off but won’t accept a potential successor in Leipzig. Everybody loves a fairy-tale story. We would all love to see Werder Bremen do a complete U-turn and survive the drop this season then shock the world and lift the Meisterschale next year, emulating the 2015/6 Leicester City miracle. But let’s get real? As someone who eats, sleeps and breathes football, it’s hard to discredit such an attractive playing style. Repetitiveness or not, this Bayern Munich side should be admired. Unfortunately for the haters out there, Bayern have a relatively young manager on board who has now tasted success and wants more. If you’re bored of Bayern, it might be time to flick over to something else, Hansi is just getting started.