Stefan Effenberg assesses FC Bayern’s slip-up and the newly ignited championship fight with Bayer Leverkusen. The SPORT1 expert also has a clear opinion in his column about Florian Wirtz, Joshua Kimmich, Harry Kane and the controversial Club World Cup.
After FC Bayern’s unexpected 1:2 slip-up at 1. FSV Mainz 05, some people are already talking again about possible effects on the Bundesliga championship fight – and point to the full-bodied statement made by FCB honorary president Uli Hoeneß to his own fans recently had already promised that the Munich team would definitely win the title.
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Hoeneß was firmly convinced when he said that – and still is. I also believe that if all the top performers like Harry Kane, Kingsley Coman and Alphonso Davies are back on board in January – because these failures really hurt – then the championship will only come through FC Bayern.
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Bayern have to defend this differently against Mainz
The fact that they don’t have the difference player in Kane is fatal – similar to RB Leipzig because of Xavi Simons. That’s a serious weakening, so I hope that Kane (Torn muscle fiber, editor’s note) have it back soon. And then, in my opinion, Bayern even have a chance of winning the Champions League.
Nevertheless: Of course you have to defend it differently against Mainz – the mistake at 0-1, for example, is clearly Minjae Kim’s, who actually just has to jump up. But: These are just the dirty games that you have to accept. It’s not just about playing nice or pressing – you also have to accept the fight. Bayern have to work on that, the result and the defeat are fully deserved.
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What’s more: Joshua Kimmich rightly said after the final whistle that this was a dangerous situation – now we really need three points against RB Leipzig on Friday. Like Kimmich, you have to raise your finger sometimes, Granit Xhaka did that at Bayer Leverkusen a few weeks ago. Kimmich simply recognizes the situation.
In any case, I don’t see any huge difference between Leverkusen and Bayern at the moment. Leverkusen is on a roll, as the serious 2-0 win at FC Augsburg shows. That’s exactly how a top team plays, and it’s not easy in Augsburg. At this stage of the season it’s all about three points and not about setting off fireworks. The Werkself as champions are no longer just anyone – they are a serious opponent for Bayern, no question about it.
Effenberg: Wirtz is well advised by his own father
What I would like to emphasize, however, is that the winter window is not a window for Bavaria to go shopping. Because what kind of quality is on the market? You can’t make a big move and get someone of the caliber of Harry Kane. It is therefore even more important that all injured players come back. And then Bayern are the clear favorites again for me.
When it comes to Florian Wirtz’s sporting future at Leverkusen, I can only repeat myself: it is very good for him to continue to develop in the current environment. You also see the joy of playing with his colleagues. He also receives good advice from his own father – so that also speaks for Wirtz, because it is safe and sensible. We have often seen that young players have their heads turned by one or two advisors.
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Flo is still young and he will still have a lot to learn – and in a few years he may act differently. He’s not that loud and, unlike
Club World Cup? “That’s also a cost apparatus.”
There is currently a lot of talk about the increasing number of competitions and games in international football and that the strain on professionals is becoming ever greater. The Club World Cup, which affects Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, is already a factor. That could perhaps be a big advantage for Leverkusen with a view to next season.
That’s really an extreme additional burden because you can no longer manage with a squad of 25 people. You need 30 players or even more. This is also a cost device because you need so many players to handle the additional games. This isn’t easy for the clubs, it’s a cycle that doesn’t end.
And this will also lead to more national players canceling international matches in the future: We already had that with Antonio Rüdiger and Real, who said in September during the Nations League that he would stay in Madrid because his body needed a break.
Stefan Effenberg won the Champions League with FC Bayern in 2001. With Bayern and Borussia Mönchengladbach he also became German champion and cup winner several times. The 56-year-old has been part of the team of experts since summer 2018 STAHLWERK double pass on SPORT1.
