There are several former Bayern Munich soccer players who can always be ignored in professional debates, but also one who should never be ignored: Philipp Lahm, the Champions League winner and world champion, the modern day captain.

His work was also so important because he addressed sporting grievances in his teams.

He said something when he really had something to say.

And so they should at least start pondering why Lahm spoke critically about the sporting situation of his former club.

Christopher Meltzer

Sports correspondent in Munich.

  • Follow I follow

During the international break, Lahm, 38, said in a "Bild TV" interview that "it is crucial for a football team that the roles are clearly assigned".

In Munich, where coach Julian Nagelsmann's team has been without a win for four Bundesliga games, he doesn't see that at the moment.

"When I look at the games, I lack understanding of the role a bit." It's not only important that you know your own role, but also that of the others, said Lahm - and then mentioned a man he knows at such moments most mentioned: Pep Guardiola.

It's no secret that Lahm, who played under the Spaniard between 2013 and 2016, thinks Guardiola is a great coach.

One reason: the roles that Guardiola gives his players.

In his "Zeit Online" column, Lahm put it this way: "He communicates to everyone in the team their own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of the others.

Every day he works on the task of each individual.

Guardiola does it with a passion that I have never experienced with anyone else.

Until everyone, including those who don't get a chance, knows that the coach is right.

That gives him absolute authority.”

What about Nagelsmann's role?

And if you compare these old observations with your new observations, you can cautiously ask: What about the roles of FC Bayern players?

What about the role of coach Julian Nagelsmann?

This Friday (8.30 p.m., DAZN) Nagelsmann plays with his team in the Bundesliga against Bayer Leverkusen.

It will be important weeks for FC Bayern - and therefore for German football.

One can hardly deny that the sporting fate of Bayern is linked to that of the national team.

Thomas Müller said on Monday: "That would be an advantage if you have a natural self-image.

By that I don't mean the basic trust in one's own abilities, but rather the combination security in the processes that one can fall back on.

It would be cool if we could work that out.”

It is striking that the small crises in which the Bavarian and German teams are stuck seven months before the start of the World Cup are similar.

Which will lead back to Julian Nagelsmann in the next few weeks – and the question: What roles do his seven national players have?

And what are the possible consequences?

Who has which role?

Manuel Neuer:

The goalkeeper invented his role as the number one player, but he made more mistakes with his foot in the first few games of the season than before.

Still doesn't matter.

When it was 0-1 in Augsburg, he stormed into the penalty area in the 90th minute and almost made it 1-1.

Probably his most important role: he is the captain.

Joshua Kimmich:

The midfielder was explicitly mentioned in Lahm's criticism.

As a so-called six, he had to "think a little more defensively" and could "work on his defensive duel".

But his role is not only defined by his own decisions (drang forward), but also by his coach's decision on who to place next to him?

Leon Goretzka:

The midfielder was placed back at Kimmich's side - and changed the balance that had previously existed between Kimmich and Marcel Sabitzer.

He is also someone who pushes forward.

The role problem with the Kimmich/Goretzka combination: In the game against the ball, neither Nagelsmann nor Flick did well in the long term.

Jamal Musiala:

The midfielder is the one who makes the difference this season with his dribbles.

But these are more individual than team actions.

He plays the role spectacularly - and yet he can't be quite sure: how much does he play?

And in which position?

Thomas Müller:

The offensive player is so valuable for his coaches because he leads and orders the chase against the ball (and has a lot to say in the dressing room).

With the ball, he seems not to have found his role in the new system (like many others).

Leroy Sané:

The striker has risen to the world class in a special role: with sprints into the space behind the defence.

"He's the best player in the world when it comes to running deep," said Pep Guardiola, who was his coach at Manchester.

The problem: There isn't always space in Munich that he can sprint into.

Serge Gnabry:

The striker shoots harder and better than almost anyone in world football.

But at the moment he doesn't get into situations where he can shoot.

His form crisis shows what consequences it can have if the role is missing.