The 5-time UCL winners haven’t won the prestigious title for the past 5 years. One of the key reason why Pep Guardiola’s and Carlo Ancelotti’s span at Munich was deemed a failure by many pundits is because of their failure at the European front.
Ex- Bayern player Niko Kovac took on the reins after a fantastic managerial spell with Eintracht Frankfurt. Leon Goretzka was the only first-team signing but his contract was agreed even before the arrival of Kovac.
Things started well as usual for the Die Roten as they eased past Eintracht Frankfurt in the German Super Cup by a colossal 5-0 victory. Their league form was pretty impressive, winning four and drawing just one in the first five games.Then their fortunes faced a crushing blow; a 3-0 thrashing at home by Borussia Monchengladbach. A press conference was scheduled the following day by Uli Hoeness and Rummenigge. Many speculated that Kovac’s time had come to a premature end at Bavaria just like what had happened to Ancelotti the previous season. But Bayern took up a different approach that day.
They were firm in their resolve that Kovac will stay as Bayern manager and launched a sensational attack on the media citing they will no longer tolerate the derogatory media reports about anyone associated with the club. The Bayern management had done a precautionary well-timed decision, looking back at it now. They wanted the manager and the players protected from all the bad light and it seems to have got a decent reaction on the pitch too.
Things started looking good for the Bavarian outfit. They slowly clambered up the table and are currently leading the table by a precious 1-point lead over rivals Dortmund. As far as the European ambitions are concerned, its something Bayern is not so vivid about this season. Despite topping the group, they have been knocked out in the Round of 16 by Liverpool. Their emphatic 5-0 win in the Der Klassiker is certainly a big boost towards the Meisterschale but still, Bayern has been fairly inconsistent. With Bayern still to play against the likes of RB Leipzig and Frankfurt, the title race is yet to be finished.
Bayern management, on the other hand, is not messing about. With Alphonso Davies, the talented youngster from the MLS the only arrival in the winter transfer window, they have already procured deals for world Cup-winning French duo Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard. Bayern is also linked to a lot of big names considering they have had more departures than arrivals in the past 2 years with the likes of Douglas Costa, Arturo Vidal, and Juan Bernat. Club icon Arjen Robben has also publicly announced that this season will be his last with FCB.So from the stance of a progressive club, Bayern has a vital transfer window ahead of them.
But the managerial future of Kovac still lies misty as of now. He has certainly brought a more attack-minded side but hasn’t been able to find a proper solution for the leaky defense. A Bundesliga title will ease the pressure but a proper strategy for next season will be expected from Kovac by the board. The board is also very keen to spend big which we have already observed from the Hernandez deal. There are also quite a few managers out there who can match Bayern’s ambitions. So, it’s up to the current gaffer to act fast and prove to the board why he is capable of delivering success to FCB. What’s certain for now is, Bayern won’t jump the gun too soon and with a proper transfer season, much expectations will lie on Bayern’s performance both in the league as well as in continental stages.
So from a general perspective, Kovac’s future at Bayern Munchen is safe for now as it seems the board will back him for the time being.
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