Eleven goals conceded in a single week: just as the season reaches its critical phase, FC Bayern has become a defensive liability. However, a system change is understandably out of the question before the second leg against PSG. Instead, the club is celebrating its attacking football and invoking the spirit of Barcelona.
Three goals against FSV Mainz 05, five against Paris Saint-Germain, and now another three against 1. FC Heidenheim. After a week with a total of eleven goals conceded, critical questions about Munich’s shaky defense in anticipation of the second leg against PSG were inevitable. The protagonists of FC Bayern seem to have a coordinated response.
One by one, they referred to the autumn of 2024. Sporting Director Max Eberl, coach Vincent Kompany, and remarkably, even goalkeeper Jonas Urbig, who wasn’t even at FC Bayern at the time, but was playing in the second division for 1. FC Köln. In that autumn of 2024 – which marked Kompany’s early days in Munich – FC Bayern lost a wild Champions League group stage match against FC Barcelona 1-4. Shortly before that, they had drawn 3-3 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. Just like today, the risky, high, man-oriented defensive approach of Munich was questioned back then.
«I’m not worried about that,» replied Eberl, adding almost in the same words as Kompany and Urbig: «We’ve had this before last year. We lost 1-4 in Barcelona and then had eight clean sheets.» In reality, the spirit of Barcelona only lasted for seven games. However, the seventh was a 1-0 home win against (of all teams!) PSG. This result would at least be enough for extra time in the second leg on Wednesday. Based on the impressions from the 4-5 first leg, such a meager 1-0 scoreline between these two attacking powerhouses seems highly unlikely this time.
«Perversely Awesome»: Max Eberl’s Plea for Spectacle Football
Nevertheless, the Munich protagonists hope for a miraculous run of clean sheets like back then, while categorically ruling out a system change. Understandably so, as this very playing style has brought FC Bayern to its current highly comfortable situation. League champions, cup finalists, realistic chances of reaching the Champions League final for the first time since 2020, and numerous goal records. However, against opponents with the highest individual attacking quality like Barca or PSG, even the slightest lapse in concentration with this playing style can lead to major problems.
Eberl presented a solution immediately after the Paris spectacle. For the second leg, he didn’t demand fewer goals conceded, but even more. This at least seems more realistic than a clean sheet streak like the one with the spirit of Barcelona. After recalling the autumn of 2024, Eberl continued on Saturday with a plea for Munich’s (and Paris’) attacking football.
«You don’t want to change the fundamental DNA,» Eberl said. «The game against Paris on Tuesday was perversely awesome, if I may say so casually. That’s what makes football: offense. Then people often say, ‘Yes, but the defense.’ We could also have games where the defense dominates. Then it ends 1-0 with a corner goal. What do you want? We’ve decided on the DNA, to play proactive football.»
FC Bayern: Joshua Kimmich Looks to the More Distant Future
According to Urbig, who as a goalkeeper is naturally the biggest sufferer, the many goals conceded are «nothing where we put our heads together and say: ‘Oh God!'» On Wednesday, Urbig will have to give way to captain Manuel Neuer in the Munich goal again. Like many other regular players, Neuer was rested against Heidenheim.
Joshua Kimmich did come on at halftime, as did Harry Kane, Luis Diaz, and Michael Olise, who forced the late equalizer with his long-range shot. Kimmich also advocated for maintaining the current system, but noted: «In the long run, when we start the new season or in the coming weeks, we will naturally make a few adjustments and go into analysis.» Kompany admitted that his team is currently «conceding too many goals.» Although, they are also conceding more than they statistically deserve. PSG scored five goals from an xG of 1.91, and Heidenheim scored three from 2.13.
Incidentally, very similar debates are currently taking place at PSG. And there’s absolutely nothing to suggest a system change there either. Responding to criticism of their defensive behavior, coach Luis Enrique forcefully stated at a press conference on Friday: «There’s no need to respect shitty opinions.» The following day, his team remained true to themselves and, like FC Bayern with a rotated starting eleven, drew 2-2 against FC Lorient.
English Translation:
Eleven goals conceded in a week: at precisely the crucial stage of the season, FC Bayern is becoming a sieve. Yet, a system change is, understandably, out of the question before the second leg against PSG; instead, they prefer to celebrate attacking football and invoke the spirit of Barcelona.
Three against FSV Mainz 05, five against Paris Saint-Germain, and now three again against 1. FC Heidenheim. After a week totaling eleven goals conceded, critical questions about Munich’s shaky defense, with an eye on the second leg against PSG, were preordained. And the protagonists of FC Bayern seem to have coordinated their responses.
One after another, they referred to the autumn of 2024. Sporting Director Max Eberl, coach Vincent Kompany, and curiously, even goalkeeper Jonas Urbig, who wasn’t even at FC Bayern back then but was still playing in the second division for 1. FC Köln. In that autumn of 2024 – it was Kompany’s early days in Munich – FC Bayern lost a wild group stage match against FC Barcelona 1-4. Shortly before that, they had conceded a 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. Just as today, the risky, high, man-oriented defensive play of Munich was questioned back then.
«I’m not worried about that,» Eberl replied, adding almost in the same words as Kompany and Urbig: «We’ve had this before last year. We lost 1-4 in Barcelona and then had eight clean sheets.» Indeed, the spirit of Barcelona only lasted for seven games. However, the seventh was a 1-0 home win against (of all teams!) PSG. This result would at least be enough for extra time in the second leg on Wednesday. After the impressions from the 4-5 first leg, such a meager 1-0 scoreline between these two attacking powerhouses appears highly unlikely this time.
«Perversely Awesome»: Max Eberl’s Plea for Spectacle Football
Nevertheless, the Munich protagonists hope for a miraculous run of clean sheets like back then, while categorically ruling out a system change. Understandably so, as precisely this style of play has brought FC Bayern to its current highly comfortable situation. Champions, cup finalists, realistic chances of reaching the Champions League final for the first time since 2020, numerous goal records. However, against opponents with the highest individual attacking quality like Barca or PSG, even the slightest lapses in concentration with this playing style can lead to major problems.
Eberl presented a solution immediately after the Paris spectacle. For the second leg, he didn’t demand fewer goals conceded, but even more. This at least appears more realistic than a run of clean sheets like back then with the spirit of Barcelona. After reminding of the autumn of 2024, Eberl continued on Saturday with a plea for Munich’s (and Paris’) attacking football.
«You don’t want to change the fundamental DNA,» Eberl said. «The game against Paris on Tuesday was perversely awesome, if I may say so casually. That’s what makes football: offense. Then people often say, ‘Yes, but the defense.’ We could also have games where the defense dominates. Then it ends 1-0 with a corner goal. What do you want? We’ve decided on the DNA, to play proactive football.»
FC Bayern: Joshua Kimmich Looks to the More Distant Future
According to Urbig, who as a goalkeeper is naturally the biggest sufferer, the many goals conceded are «nothing where we put our heads together and say: ‘Oh God!'» On Wednesday, Urbig will have to let captain Manuel Neuer take his place in the Munich goal again. Like many other regular players, Neuer was rested against Heidenheim.
Joshua Kimmich did at least come on at halftime, as did Harry Kane, Luis Diaz, and Michael Olise, who forced the late equalizer with his long-range shot. Kimmich also spoke in favor of maintaining the current system, but noted: «In the long run, when we start the new season or in the coming weeks, we will naturally make a few adjustments and go into analysis.» Kompany admitted that his team is currently «conceding too many goals.» Although, they are also conceding more than they statistically deserve. PSG scored five goals from an xG of 1.91, and Heidenheim scored three from 2.13.
Incidentally, very similar debates are currently taking place at PSG. And there’s absolutely nothing to suggest a system change there either. Coach Luis Enrique countered criticism of the defensive behavior at a press conference on Friday with a powerful statement: «There’s no need to respect shitty opinions.» The following day, his team remained true to itself and, like FC Bayern with a rotated starting eleven, drew 2-2 against FC Lorient.