How Flick turned dying Bayern into a war machine

Special envoy to Lisbon

After Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben, the deluge? The departure of Bayern's two star wingers in the summer of 2019 could have marked a real halt in Munich. The start of the 2019-20 fiscal year was not at all brilliant, in the game, the results. Difficult months which cost his place to Nico Kovac, the new coach of Monaco. His deputy, Hans-Dieter Flick, took over in early November. Four entry wins (Olympiakos, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Red Star), 16 goals scored, none conceded. Debut with a bang. And… two losses in a row, against Leverkusen (1-2) and Mönchengladbach (2-1). After the early state of grace, doubts were already back. Not for a long time. Coach Flick has found the right springs, pulled on the right strings and said the right words to revive the sleeping giant from Bayern.

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It must be said that the squad has something to make any coach in Europe green with envy, in terms of quality and quantity. Imagine that against Barcelona (8-2), Flick left on the bench Kingsley Coman, Niklas Süle, Philippe Coutinho or the world champions Lucas Hernandez and Corentin Tolisso. All while another member of the Russian campaign in 2018, Benjamin Pavard, is unavailable.

“Müller and Boateng? Flick put the postman back on the bike "

It was still necessary to make the most of this incredible potential. And that's what Flick was able to do. Variety in attack around the goal machine Robert Lewandowski (14 in 8 C1 matches), a newfound defense and relaunched executives, like Thomas Müller and Jerome Boateng. “With Thomas Müller, we are not in a classic coach-coach relationship. You need the manager, analyzes Patrick Guillou, beIN SPORTS consultant . And Hansi Flick knew him from the German team, they were world champions together. He knew exactly how to take it, like Jerome Boateng, who was in the cellar. He put the postman back on the bike. ” Müller and Boateng, symbols of Munich renewal. 

“What has he changed with the coach? Lots of things, says Tolisso. We didn't necessarily play very well before and things are going much better. We play well, we are good offensively and defensively. He brought in the tactical aspects, in the mentality and that's what made the difference. We had problems, he was able to solve them as soon as he arrived. He is a good coach who brings a lot on a daily basis, who talks a lot with his players and who gives a lot of confidence. " And there is everything else, these little things that you can't see. But who matter ...

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For example, during confinement, it was Hansi Flick himself who brought the bikes to the players at their homes. Bayern were also one of the first clubs to set up video-conference group training sessions at that time, with former glories participating like Robben or Bastian Schweinsteiger. Moreover, Flick salutes the work of physical trainer Holger Broich as soon as he has the opportunity. “The metamorphosis of the physical aspect during this period is symbolized by Leon Goretzka. You just have to watch him in January-February and now, he's not the same player, ”underlines Guillou.  

19 consecutive wins and 26 unbeaten matches

In the end, Bayern will have walked in the Bundesliga, pocketing the German Cup in the process, and remains on 19 consecutive victories in all competitions (!) Since its draw against Leipzig on February 9 (0-0). Before that, the "Rekordmeister" had already lined up six successes. Bayern version Flick, it is therefore 34 matches, 31 victories, a draw and two defeats, 112 goals scored and 26 conceded. War machine. “When Bayern starts to roll, it looks like the Harlem Globetrotters, marvels Patrick Guillou. Under Pep Guardiola, there was still the will to make the pass more, to make it even more beautiful. With Jupp Heynckes and especially Hansi Flick, it still gets to the point, it's more surgical. "

If he was obviously not surprised by the quality of play developed against Barça, noting all the same that "the start of the match could have been pinned otherwise", Patrick Guillou admits to having all the same been surprised to see the Munich at "this level, with this quality of play and these automatisms" after only two official matches. Bayern ended the German season and the national games on July 4 with the final of the German Cup, before ten days of vacation, a new physical preparation and the eighth-final second leg of the Champions League against Chelsea. (4-1), just to confirm the 3-0 success acquired at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, before the interruption of the season.

"Despite their record, how do these players manage to maintain their level of demand and this thirst for titles?"

Although, there is another element which still manages to surprise the former Franco-German defender: “Despite their record, how do these players manage to maintain their level of requirement and this thirst for titles? They won it all! Still, Thomas Müller, Jerome Boateng, Manuel Neuer, David Alaba and those who have already lifted the Champions League continue. They have this pride of the champion, this intransigence towards themselves. " Question of culture. It is in the DNA of this club, five times winner of the Champions League and which is only 180 minutes away from a new treble in the German Championship-Cup-Champions League, as in 2013 with Ribéry and Robben. Deutsche qualität.

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