The international break is over, and VfB Stuttgart is heading straight to Munich. Bayern fans Jojo and Laura tell us how things are going with the record champions.
Rund um den Brustring: How is your season going so far?
Jojo: So far, pretty decent. We’re still dealing with injuries, and the last three games were somewhat disappointing, but you can definitely see the game plan, and from here, things can only go uphill.
Laura: The season is still way too young to assess properly, but we had a great start in the Bundesliga. The 1–0 loss against Aston Villa in the Champions League wasn’t ideal, of course, but we have all the stats on our side. All in all, I think we can be satisfied. Especially against Leverkusen, we proved our quality and were clearly the only team playing for the win.
What’s your goal for the season? Will only a treble be enough, as always, or would you be satisfied with less after last season without a title?
Jojo: It’s the “Finale Dahoam” (final at home). Anything less than a treble is nothing.
Laura: I think a club like FC Bayern must always have the treble as the ultimate goal. Especially with the “Finale Dahoam” high on the list, and the Bundesliga title should also come back to Munich. Personally, I watched last season’s much-predicted “Bayern downfall” with a smile – a titleless season is not the end, and the players are probably even hungrier now.
What’s your assessment of Vincent Kompany?
Jojo: Very competent, even on a personal level. His approach fits perfectly into Bayern’s once-feared DNA. If they can fix the minor defensive issues, things couldn’t go better.
Laura: Very positive. It seems like all the players are buying into his idea, and he seems to connect well with everyone, selling his philosophy effectively. His multilingualism certainly helps with such an international team. So far, he seems very calm, and success is proving him right. Bayern is back to playing possession football, which suits them well. But the real test will be how he handles losing a few games. I’m curious to see if his stubbornness will get in the way or if he will handle it confidently.
What do you think of the new signing and former VfB player Hiroki Ito? Do you think he has a chance to establish himself with you long-term?
Jojo: Ito wasn’t signed without reason, especially for his ball-playing skills. I’m curious to see how things go once he’s fit again.
Laura: Ito is an outstanding left-back whose main talent lies in defense. The question is how he will fit into the back four since Alphonso Davies and Upamecano are currently very solid. He got injured before the season started and hasn’t played a minute yet, so we’ll see how well he integrates into the team once he’s fit again. Due to a lack of alternatives, he’ll surely get some minutes – whether he’ll become a regular is yet to be seen.
What do you think of Bayern talent Frans Krätzig, who’s currently on loan at VfB?
Jojo: I haven’t seen enough of him, either with us or with you. But I’d be happy for him to succeed – he’s a genuinely nice guy.
Laura: Frans is a great player, and I’m glad he’s getting game time at VfB! He seems to have embraced the left-back position well and has a strong competitor in Maxi Mittelstädt. I actually see him as more of an attacking player (dream goal with Bayern against Liverpool), but I think he still needs to figure that out for himself. Frans grew up at Bayern, and with more experience, I can see him becoming a candidate for our first team. Either way, I think he’ll make his way in the Bundesliga.
Nübel is also on loan from Bayern. Do you think he can dethrone Manuel Neuer next year, or is his future outside Allianz Arena?
Jojo: If Neuer really retires, the spot will be perfect for Nübel. But only he can decide if he wants to come back or try his luck elsewhere.
Laura: I think Nübel is currently the best German goalkeeper under 30, which makes him an option for Bayern. Whether the loan spell and Neuer’s retirement line up remains to be seen. Nübel is showing how strong he is at VfB, but I’m not sure if he’s missing that final 5% of talent to consistently deliver top performances at Champions League level.
What are your strengths and weaknesses? How would you describe Bayern’s football?
Jojo: Our strength is definitely that we control the game against even the strongest opponents and impose our DNA on it. That’s the old Bayern. Weaknesses are still in finishing and counter-defense.
Laura: The strengths are particularly in possession football, which suits most Bayern players, and in the pressing. Our weaknesses are mainly at the back – after his long injury break from the skiing accident, Manuel Neuer hasn’t returned to his old form, and age is catching up with him. We need to establish a new No. 1 soon and not wait too long. Minjae Kim struggles to maintain a high level consistently, and Davies seems to have found his form again. The long-term solution for the full-back position, where Guerreiro and Laimer are currently alternating, is also uncertain. I’m hopeful for Stanisic, who will hopefully be fit soon. All in all, we’re playing incredibly dominant football at the moment, as all the tactical data shows. It’s really fun to watch Bayern work their magic.
Stuttgart won 3–1 in the last encounter. What does VfB need to do to repeat that?
Jojo: Bayern will definitely dominate the game. But Enzo Millot could do what Omar Marmoush did last time, if things go wrong.
Laura: VfB won’t have much possession. Your chance lies in creating quick transitions and finishing your chances well. You’d need to bypass the midfield quickly and then exploit the defense, which is currently not set up optimally.
What’s your prediction and feeling for the game?
Jojo: 3–1 Bayern. We’ll control the game, especially with your defense weakened by transfers. But Millot will probably slip through once.
Laura: I’m looking forward to a great match. My prediction: 3–1 – maybe with a nice Olise double?
Thank you!
Note: This interview was translated from German via ChatGPT
Picture: © Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images