Lothar Matthäus draws a big first round balance and distributes grades for the new coach. One gets a 5 minus.
BILD am SONNTAG: Is the Bundesliga only mediocre internationally, Mr Matthäus?
Lothar Matthäus (60): No. Why?
Because only FC Bayern is in the Champions League round of 16 in 2022. Dortmund, Leipzig, Frankfurt and Leverkusen only play in the Europa League.
Matthew: A year and a half ago we had two teams in the top four, Bayern and Leipzig. So it can’t all be wrong. Dortmund in particular, but also Wolfsburg, haven’t done their homework now, otherwise we would be talking about a normal Champions League season. Despite the upheaval, Leipzig’s performances were at least suitable internationally, but the group with Paris and Manchester City was also very strong.
Where does the Bundesliga stand internationally?
Matthew: Behind England, of course. But the other nations have not overtaken us. This is just a snapshot.
Isn’t it a warning signal for the Bundesliga that Bayern are already so confidently first again?
Matthew: The league is also attractive from a sporting point of view behind Bayern: We saw exciting games and surprising results in the first half of the season. We have a lot of interesting young players like Haaland, Wirtz, Musiala, Bellingham, to name a few. There is really no shortage of great players in the Bundesliga.
What is the reason for Bavaria’s dominance?
Matthew: Because of their strength, of course. You have top quality players who are also team players. And for years no other club has played consistently enough to stay close to Bayern.
Why can’t even Dortmund do it?
Matthew: Because they don’t have the quality that Bavaria has. For example, making decisive use of the opponent’s mistakes. Most recently, in Bayern’s 3-2 win, BVB had a chance of taking the lead in the second half when the score was 2-2 – and then beat themselves. For me, BVB was even the slightly superior team in this phase. Before the game Dortmund were able to lead the table, then they lose five points in two games. That’s what I mean by a lack of consistency.
Do you also mean the quality of individual players?
Matthew: There are very few at BVB who would be a reinforcement for Bavaria. And only a few who could play well at Bayern. The rest falls off.
So is Bavaria champion again?
Matthew: Six points ahead, another home game against Dortmund – I can’t imagine that there is another champion.
Who is your first half player?
Matthew: I could invent a name now, as you often do: Haalandowski! (laughs)
And seriously?
Matthew: Lewandowski before Haaland before Schick. But it’s unjust if I just go to gates. Thomas Müller with his many templates should not be forgotten. Not even fashions. I have to name Musiala as a young player. I’m a Musiala fan – actually it still doesn’t play enough for me.
What were you amazed at in the first half of the season?
Matthew: SC Freiburg and Mainz 05 really surprised me! Plus TSG Hoffenheim, which you almost expect up there. Everywhere there is good work, all year round. All three clearly scored more than 50 points in 2021!
Will one of the three clubs make it into the Champions League?
Matthew: Everyone in this trio should be allowed to play there. But I think Leipzig will catch up, the quality in the squad is there. Bayern and Dortmund are set, Leverkusen actually too.
Are you worried about Gladbach?
Matthew: First of all, the people of Gladbach have to worry. At least I am worried. Something is not right that blinded Bayern 5-0 in the cup. As a former Gladbach player and a supporter of the club, it’s hard for me to look at the table. You have had a similar series of negative results as Wolfsburg. These two clubs are the biggest disappointments.
Both started this season with new coaches, and that was the case for eight clubs in total. A novelty in the Bundesliga.
Matthew: Yes, and not everyone lived up to expectations. Mark van Bommel is gone in Wolfsburg, Jesse Marsch in Leipzig. Max Eberl in Gladbach is a little more cautious, but more is expected from his coach Adi Hütter than the current table position.
What grades do you give the new coaches?
Matthew: Nagelsmann: 1 minus! He does a fantastic job, athletically and as a representative of FC Bayern, even with difficult issues for which others in the club would actually be responsible. He acts with sovereignty and looseness. The minus is for the 0: 5 in the cup in Gladbach.
Can Bayern win the Champions League with him?
Matthew: (laughs) Yes, but they can do it even without Nagelsmann, as they proved with Hansi Flick. But I really trust them to be able to do it again.
The other notes?
Matthew: Marco Rose in Dortmund: 2 minus, because of the Champions League. Gerardo Seoane in Leverkusen: also 2 minus, third in the league, internationally more, but cup-out. Oliver Glasner has improved from minus 4 to 3 in Frankfurt. Hütter: still 4, because of the 5-0 against Bayern. Steffen Baumgart: 2, he sparked new joy in Cologne. Jesse Marsch: 5, because of the league defeats. Mark van Bommel: 5 minus, also because of the mistake with the cup. Successor Florian Kohfeldt quickly slacked off in Wolfsburg. Tedesco is too short in Leipzig, just like Korkut at Hertha.
Apropos: Why is it not working out at Hertha BSC, where coach Dardai has been replaced, with the “Big City Club”?
Matthew: There have been too many changes in the past few years, on and off the pitch. Fredi Bobic knows that it is a great change that he has a lot of work. At first I don’t expect Hertha to be where they wanted to be when the investor started. This year, Hertha have to be satisfied if they reach a secure midfield position – and that is also not guaranteed at the moment.
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