Enlarge image

Michael Ballack and Thomas Tuchel in conversation in January

Photo: ActionPictures / IMAGO

Michael Ballack sees the reasons for FC Bayern Munich's crisis primarily in the players. The former captain of the German national soccer team and ex-professional of the German record champions said in an interview with “Kicker” (Monday): “I believe that a certain saturation process has set in among the players and that the self-image for self-motivation is no longer there , as was perhaps the case in this successful Corona year of 2020. On paper, Bayern also have a very good squad this season.

Nevertheless, the defending champions are in second place in the table after 28 match days, 16 points behind Bayer 04 Leverkusen. After the defeat against Borussia Dortmund, the team and coach Thomas Tuchel reached another low point on Saturday with the 2-3 defeat at newly promoted 1. FC Heidenheim.

The early separation from Tuchel after this season has already been decided. Bayern's only chance of winning the title is in the Champions League, in which they have to play the quarter-final first leg against Premier League leaders FC Arsenal in London on Tuesday.

The Munich team had burned two top coaches, Julian Nagelsmann and Tuchel, in two years, said 47-year-old Ballack, who played for Munich for four years from the summer of 2002 after moving from Leverkusen. “When I hear now that they want to initiate another change with Ralf Rangnick and reorganize the club – they already tried that two years ago with Nagelsmann,” says Ballack.

Ballack sees problems in terms of hierarchy and salary structures

They were convinced of the quality of the trainer and wanted to build something long-term, "but they didn't give him the time and instead declared the project a failure after just one and a half years. Then they brought in Tuchel and it didn't work again." Nagelsmann took over the Munich team from Hansi Flick in the summer of 2021, but had to vacate his post again in March 2023 and Tuchel was brought in. The current national coach Nagelsmann is also considered Tuchel's successor. Ballack is not enthusiastic about this idea. "Bringing Nagelsmann back would be the last option for me, I wouldn't recommend that," said Ballack. Ballack did not give any more precise reasons.

He thinks that FC Bayern “should question itself very carefully when looking at the overall situation and also take its time,” said Ballack. He believes that a few things have slipped at FC Bayern in recent years. "That's why those responsible must clearly use the lever to get the hunger back and to bring about clean stability in the issues of hierarchy and salary structure." His clear recommendation for action: "You have to approach the squad."

kjo/sid/dpa