Bayern dominate the league again at will. David Alaba also plays a large part in this. Apparently he’s thinking about a change. That would not be a bad decision.
What was that season of Werder Bremen – full of worries and pressure. Congratulations on last minute relegation, which has proven two things. Firstly, those responsible made the right decisions by sticking to trainer Florian Kohfeldt. Second: The relegation is a mega exciting highlight after the 34 Bundesliga match days.
Six years ago, twice as many viewers
And all the more important if the boredom at the top becomes more and more overwhelming, as is unfortunately the case at the moment. Of the FC Bayern has won eight league titles in a row – with Juventus in Italy this is the longest series ever in one of the top five leagues in Europe. It doesn’t matter that it is in the DFBCup on Saturday was “only” the second title in a row.
Photo series with 20 pictures
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The dominance obviously leads to a decrease in interest in German football. On average, only seven million viewers watched the 4-2 of Bayern Munich against Bayer Leverkusen. Since 2013, around ten million people or more have tuned in on average. In 2014 there were even 14.27 million in the game between Bayern and Dortmund (2: 0 nV). In comparison, it was half this time.
Bavaria competition is already raising the white flag
That may be the impact of Corona-Krise – but the numbers should also be a warning. They just fit into the picture of the empty stadiums due to the corona security measures. And they coincide with what I hear among friends and acquaintances. Many don’t feel like it anymore because Bavaria always wins anyway.
And the trend is that things will continue to do so over the next few years. Bavaria has with Leroy Sané obliges the announced international top star and threatens to be out of reach for years to come. This time the competition flies the white flag even before preparation for the new season has even started.
Worries about the Bundesliga
That’s how Gladbach’s sports director Max Eberl calls title dreams “as realistic as if I challenge Usain Bolt to the 100-meter run and think I can win.” Borussia Dortmund according to managing director Hans-Joachim Watzke, no longer wants to set any goals. And no attack is to be expected from the other clubs like Leipzig or Leverkusen either. Since you can worry about the Bundesliga.
For me it is very clear: new fire has to come in, it has to tingle again. But how? A salary cap? A new distribution of TV money? A draft system for youth players? Deduction for the master? In the end, it’s all not fair.
It only helps a new mode
There is only one way to get the Bundesliga back on its feet: a new mode. In February 2018, I already proposed a new Bundesliga mode in a column here (Read details here), to which I would now like to come back. At that time, Bavaria was facing the sixth title. Today, eight are fixed – and the situation is even more urgent due to the Corona crisis.
The short version of the mode: At the beginning of the season, two groups of nine will be drawn, which will play in round-trip matches for December to qualify for the championship round. The best four of the two groups and the better group fifth then play the German champions in a group of nine from January to May – the rest play for relegation. It remains at 18 Bundesliga clubs, it remains roughly on schedule and roughly the number of games. The advantage: All teams start the second half of the season in January with zero points and zero goals. So nobody has a head start.
(Those: t-online.de)
Should at least try the mode
The draw alone would be a mega event with a gigantic audience rating – and thus a real highlight in August. You would also learn from the Corona crisis, because: That the Champions League starting in the second round of the second leg in August this year will make it the most exciting August ever. While we usually have at most the first round in the DFB Cup.
Maybe there are other ideas or suggestions – I personally think this variant is the fairest. I therefore advocate trying this mode for at least one season.
What else can hope do?
I can see that despite Sané, there are currently more question marks at Bayern as an exclamation point in relation to the squad. Is Javi Martinez going? What does Thiagowho obviously wants to leave because otherwise he would have signed the contract offer from Bavaria? How is it going with Jerome Boateng, who again shows strong performances but only has a contract until 2021? How is going David Alaba decide who is apparently thinking about a change?
I can understand him. And I even say: he won’t regret a farewell. An international experience helps everyone in their personal development. I played in Florence and Qatar and in retrospect found this time incredibly educational and definitely the right decision. The language, the culture – there are many impressions that move you forward.
Stefan Effenberg (left) and Brian Laudrup near Florence. (Source: Magic / imago images)
Does Alaba choose the Schweinsteiger model?
Alaba can of course still have this experience at the age of 32 and 33 and switch to the end of his career. So it did Bastian Schweinsteiger made a dream come true with Manchester United and Chicago Fire. If Alaba chooses the Schweinsteiger model, he will probably no longer play for the Champions League title. For this he would have to go to a club in the top category in Spain or Italy this summer.
The latest rumor: David Alaba to negotiate with Inter Milan. (Source: Sven Simon / imago images)
Thiago, Alaba or Boateng, that would be painful departures, on which it will depend whether Bavaria needs to be active in the transfer market again.
What Bavaria does is high art
But even if this happens, there is enough time until the end of the transfer phase. In recent years, Bavaria has repeatedly been compensated for the loss of top performers and very important personalities: first from Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, then most recently from Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben and Mats Hummels.
I would therefore also like to pay a very clear tribute to the success of FC Bayern: it is a really high art to be at the top over such a long period. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge once called the championship the most honest title – and is absolutely right. It does not count that you are in front or have a stronger phase in between. It matters that you are first on match day 34.
Something has to happen
And Bavaria has done it impressively eight times in a row. Despite a change of coach. Despite eight or nine points behind. In the past season alone, Bayern had eight points less than the then leaders Gladbach on match day 14, after 34 games 17 points ahead of Borussia. So you’ve made up 25 points in 20 games – that’s insane.
But unfortunately this is also a threat to the attractiveness of the league. No club can win ten championships in a row – but that is exactly what is threatening. If nothing happens.
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