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At FC Bayern, each season consists of two seasons.
The first includes all games up to the end of the preliminary round of the Champions League.
The second starts with the first leg of the round of 16 in the premier class.
The German record champions will fly to Rome on Monday afternoon, and will play at Lazio on Tuesday evening (9 p.m. / Sky).
At the start of the decisive second part of the season, Munich has many problems and worries.
They have had a disappointing week.
The balance has triggered an alarm in the executive suite: Only one point from two games, two 0: 2 behind, lost the top game at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday 1: 2.
"We lost five points in the games," stated Leon Goretzka.
"We missed the first half in Frankfurt completely."
Rummenigge misses concentration
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In fact, Eintracht could have led 4-0 after 45 minutes.
It was Bayern's weakest half in a long time.
In addition to their sporting worries, there is an image problem: With their statements about vaccinations and the health expert Karl Lauterbach (SPD), Bayern have put themselves in a position to justify themselves.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge started his core business, football, when he appeared in the ZDF sports studio on Saturday evening.
The team plays too unfocused and inconsistent if they are in the club's leadership.
Five points awarded, "that is an unusually high amount for FC Bayern," said Rummenigge.
Bavaria's CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge justifies the club's trips to Qatar
Source: Getty Images / Pool
He has the impression that the team is currently saving the last meter.
Captain Manuel Neuer had previously said in Frankfurt: “We didn't
learn
from the Bielefeld game
(3: 3, editor)
.
There has to be aggressiveness on the pitch right from the start. "
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Recently, after the Club World Cup in Qatar, Bayern were celebrating their six titles won within a year.
Now they let the many construction sites in the team and around them fly to Rome with a number of question marks.
“Of course you can always find explanations and excuses.
But that is not our job.
We will make sure that we give the answers in the upcoming games on the pitch, ”emphasized Goretzka.
One reason for the lack of victories is Thomas Müller.
The world champion, who is in quarantine after positive corona tests, is missing as a leading player, template provider and executor.
It is currently showing how much the team depends on him.
In the two games without Müller in the attacking headquarters, Flick relied on Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who disappointed.
The trainer has enormous personnel worries.
In addition to Müller, Benjamin Pavard is missing because of a corona infection, Douglas Costa, Serge Gnabry, Corentin Tolisso, Tanguy Nianzou and Alexander Nübel are injured.
This cannot be an alibi for Bayern's poor defensive performance: already conceding 31 goals after 22 matchdays - that was last in the 1991/92 season.
Roca overwhelmed in midfield
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After only one league defeat in 2020, Munich have lost for the second time this year.
“Apparently something is wrong with the vote.
The whole team has to help on the defensive, ”said Rummenigge.
In Frankfurt, Flick let defender Niklas Süle play on the right side of defense, the national player did not convince and lost decisive duels against Filip Kostic.
Marc Roca was overwhelmed in midfield, Flick reacted at half-time and brought Goretzka into the game.
Top talent Jamal Musiala changed the coach shortly before the end.
Flick's line-up was questioned by fans and experts over the weekend.
Niklas Süle could leave Bayern at the end of the season
Source: Getty Images / Alexander Hassenstein
Rummenigge even publicly criticized Süle and top access Leroy Sané: “Leroy Sané doesn't pay attention to the 0: 1.
At 0: 2, Niki Süle has to push the player to the outside and not let the shot get inside. "
Süle, who signed up four years ago, should develop into the head of the defense, which he has not entirely succeeded in so far.
His future is uncertain, the 25-year-old's contract ends in June 2022. If Süle does not extend it prematurely, he will probably be sold this summer.
Chelsea FC should be interested.
Rummenigge announced timely talks with Süle, but questioned the player's long-term whereabouts.
“If we can find a solution, we are generally happy to extend the contract.
But that will only be possible under certain conditions, ”said the club boss.
One will see “what the results of the discussions” will lead to.
Basically, the goal is to retain the good German national players.
The club must also pay attention to the finances in the Corona crisis.
"We'll look at it seriously and calmly until the summer," said Rummenigge.
"Football still has humility"
Whenever Bayern go to away games in the Champions League, the CEO speaks of a “dash of humility” with which you start the journey.
In the past it was always related to sport.
In the pandemic, humility is expected well beyond the sidelines.
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Rummenigge defended himself against allegations that football claims a special role.
"We are not arrogant at all, we do not require any special role at all," he said.
"Football is still humble." But professional football is also affected by the pandemic.
"We are all tense in our country," said Rummenigge.
"It's not that easy, even for football." He warned against a debate about envy.
His statements about vaccination were partially misunderstood.
"We don't want to push ourselves in any way," he said of the debate about a possible preference for professional athletes when vaccinating.
Rummenigge had suggested at Sport1 that football professionals could serve as vaccination models for the population.
Of course, this only applies "if there is enough vaccine", stressed Rummenigge now and defended the clubs' trips in the European Cup.
“You can't blame German football for that.
It's not a club decision, it's a UEFA decision.
The alternative would be not to take part in the Champions League. ”Most recently, RB Leipzig played its round of 16 against Liverpool in Budapest due to travel restrictions.
This is "worth discussing because you get the impression that football has a special role," said Rummenigge.
The next title - Bayern won the Club World Cup in Qatar, but now they have many problems
Source: dpa / Uncredited
The 65-year-old also commented on the ongoing criticism of FC Bayern's partnership with Qatar and called for the “necessary patience” with the country.
In terms of human and labor rights, Qatar has "come a long way," he said.
Many are calling for the club to position itself more strongly than the 2022 World Cup host.
"We at FC Bayern are of the opinion that you can achieve a lot more in a dialogue than in a permanently critical attitude."
The Munich-based company has a sponsorship agreement with Qatar Airways and used Qatar for winter training camps.
Rummenigge pointed out that the still young country had developed.
Football makes a "great contribution to improving the situation".
But his club or football alone could not bring about any major change.
"We cannot improve the whole world."
Bayern want to focus entirely on sport in the new week.
They have to improve significantly, otherwise their second season this season won't be as successful as the club hoped for.
Lazio have won their last seven home games.