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Group victory achieved, personnel problems increased: Bayern coach Hansi Flick
Photo: CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP
Hansi Flick's answer was very short.
After the final whistle it was about the question of Manuel Neuer at the back and Robert Lewandowski at the front, whether FC Bayern had the world's best goalkeeper and the world's best striker.
The Bayern coach said: "Yes." Period.
Especially Neuer had one of his currently frequent and frequently needed days with parades from another dimension on Wednesday in the 3-1 against RB Salzburg.
And Robert Lewandowski also convinced once again, with the goal to make it 1-0, he drew 71 goals with Raùl in third place in the eternal leaderboard of the Champions League scorers, ahead of him only, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo (131) and Lionel Messi (118).
No, Hansi Flick really doesn't have to worry about the positions at either end of his team at the moment.
Completely different than in the rows in between, because there, as was also seen on Wednesday, the two lines in front of Neuer are causing him great worries: the back four and the sixth position, because of a long list of injuries - and because of a problem case.
After Alphonso Davies' serious injury a month ago, Flick had already announced: »We have to be creative now«.
That was also the case with the line-up on Wednesday, for Lucas Hernández, who had been suffering from the 1-1 draw against Bremen on the hip, Chris Richards made his Champions League debut as a left-back.
The 20-year-old had problems, however, as did the second debutant of the evening, Marc Roca, before him.
After the injuries of Joshua Kimmich and Corentin Tolisso, the newcomer was in defensive midfield alongside Leon Goretzka.
If he had space, he sometimes hit good passes.
When things got tight, deficits became apparent.
The result: two awkward fouls that resulted in two yellow cards - and thus the first expulsion in the first Champions League game.
As mixed as the achievements of Richards and Roca might be, Flick may have to fall back on them soon.
Because he doesn't have many alternatives for the tactical setup between the penalty area and the center line.
Not even in the defense center after he deleted Niklas Süle from the squad again, as on Saturday.
Dissatisfied with Süle's fitness level
Officially on the grounds of a training deficit, after eight days of corona quarantine and a trip to the national team.
In fact, it looks more like a disciplinary measure.
Süle has already addressed his penchant for sweet drinks and fast food, and there is speculation about obesity around Säbener Straße.
The fact is that Flick is dissatisfied with the fitness level of his central defender and currently considers him unfit to help the team.
Only Jérôme Boateng and David Alaba remain in the middle.
And on the right Benjamin Pavard - who hobbled off the field after an hour after a blow to the ankle against Salzburg.
The two defensive lines of FC Bayern, the back four and the double six, were guarantees for stability, robust breakwaters on two lines, unshakable, especially in the last triple season.
At the moment, however, the structure over there seems very fragile.
Fragile and vulnerable.
After all: With Atlético's 0-0 draw against Lok Moscow at the same time, Bayern are early group winners, which is why the games in Madrid (December 1st) and against Lok (December 9th) can be tackled with subordinate appreciation.
A good opportunity to spare the remaining permanent staff for the Bundesliga, there are five more games to come by Christmas.
Against the, stand now, table positions three, four, five, six and eight.
A decent program.
But in addition to short-term worries about ailing and injured players (many) and an unfit (Süle), Hansi Flick gradually has to deal with the long-term uncertainties of the squad planning.
At Alaba, the signs are still pointing to separation at the end of the contract in 2021, so far, as can be heard, there has been no attempt by either side to approach again.
Will Boateng stay now?
Boateng is also about to take off.
The 2014 world champion was not very pleased recently when he learned from the media about the club bosses' request not to extend his contract, which is also due to expire this summer.
Even if board member Oliver Kahn did not want to categorically rule out Boateng staying on Wednesday before the start of the game: "We know what we have in him." Perhaps he also knows that because, according to "Sport Bild", Süle now faces a difficult future Munich stands because the boardroom is considering, due to its lack of professionalism, not to extend its contract, which will end in 2022.
Alaba, Boateng and Süle, Bayern's three question marks.
A big exclamation point, on the other hand, is Goretzka, reliable and uninjured, naturally placed in the defensive midfield.
Nowhere else. Or?
On Wednesday against Salzburg, Goretzka played the last ten minutes as a right-back.
The personnel situation currently requires creativity.
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