FC Bayern without Alaba and Boateng? DAZN expert Gunesch with a spectacular insider tip for FCB bosses

Alaba and Boateng gone?

DAZN expert Ralph Gunesch speaks exclusively to tz.de about FC Bayern, their future defense and the Champions League opponent Lazio Rome.

• Ralph Gunesch speaks exclusively about FC Bayern in the interview

• The DAZN expert recommends a very special defender to the record champions

• In addition, the ex-Bundesliga player reveals which Lazio star Bayern have to watch out for in the Champions League

Munich - FC Bayern won their sixth title of the season on Thursday evening.

With a 1-0 win against Tigres, the Munich team can now call themselves World Cup winners.

In the run-up to the finals, tz.de spoke to

DAZN

expert Ralph Gunesch.

The former defender talks about the new defensive behavior of Hansi Flick's team and also puts a very special central defender on the heart of the record champions.

Gunesch also explains what FC Bayern can expect in the Champions League against Lazio Rome and which one should be particularly careful of.

FC Bayern: DAZN expert Gunesch explains why FCB is now more stable

Mr. Gunesch, you saw FC Bayern at the Club World Cup for DAZN.

The performance in the semifinals against Al-Ahly was manageable.

But it was noticeable that all FCB players were looking forward to this Club World Cup - despite the very tight schedule in this Corona season.

Are you surprised?

Ralph Gunesch (DAZN):

The Club World Cup only has this subordinate status in Europe, in many other countries it is the most important club competition in the world.

But that is also due to the fact that Europe also has a much higher density of really top clubs.

But FC Bayern approached this game with such seriousness that it wasn't fireworks against Al-Ahly, but the opponents didn't really have a chance either.

In addition: If FC Bayern now flies to Qatar for a week, then of course they want to win this title - no ifs or buts.

In the autumn and winter, FC Bayern had a little slack.

Above all, the defense did not seem stable there.

Now Manuel Neuer is even playing to zero again.

What has tactically been done in this regard in the past few weeks?

Gunesch:

Ultimately, Hansi Flick didn't change that much in the tactical area.

It was rather unusual that Bayern conceded so many goals in the autumn and the run-up to Christmas.

Now they have not conceded a goal in three of the last four Bundesliga games.

There has been a rethink in the team because you have noticed that you are successful with the brutal full throttle football from the previous season, but that it was not always feasible in the long term.

This process has now taken place.

However, Bayern are not yet where they want to be.

Let's just remember the game against Hertha BSC, when Cunha marched completely free on Manuel Neuer in the 90th minute.

That just can't happen.

Therefore, the defenders at Bayern have often been criticized in the past few months.

The tiresome discussion about David Alaba, the unclear future of Jerome Boateng, the missing form of Niklas Süle.

What role did that play?

Gunesch:

A functioning central defense is extremely important for the stability of a team, that's the cornerstone.

If there are inconsistencies there on several levels, it does not lead to top performance.

Of course, the team didn't defend particularly well overall, but when it starts to crumble in the center it becomes very fragile.

Even if the overall quality of the team is still sufficient to only lose one Bundesliga game like against Gladbach.

But you can also see at Liverpool how unstable everything becomes if the cornerstone of central defense fails.

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Ralph Gunesch is an expert at DAZN

© DAZN

But is FC Bayern not taking too great a risk, considering that Alaba will probably leave the club, if you do not extend the squad planning with Boateng, for example, or are you already sure about Dayot Upemacano?

Gunesch:

I assume that those responsible at FC Bayern know what they're doing.

They will certainly try to find a replacement.

But you don't get this for a small thaler, at least not with the claims of FC Bayern.

Upamecano already has a very high performance volume, there is still a lot of potential in it.

But the competition is also quite big, as you can hear.

FC Bayern without Alaba and Boateng?

DAZN expert Gunesch with a spectacular insider tip for FCB bosses

Who else should FCB sign for central defense?

You won't be able to lure a Sergio Ramos to Munich ...

Gunesch:

How about the man from Bremen?

Do you mean Marco Friedl?

Gunesch:

No.

(laughs) I mean the central defender of FC Turin, Gleison Bremer.

He's 23 years old and is playing an outstanding season in Serie A. That's an exciting boy, Liverpool probably already has him on the list.

In terms of performance, he may not be quite at Upamecano's level, but he is one who has incredible potential.

However, this raises the question of who will stay from the current central defenders.

If FC Bayern is looking for a regular central defender, this might not be the first choice.

Speaking of Serie A. You will accompany DAZN on Sunday in the top match in Italy between Lazio Rome and Inter Milan.

What does the team of FCB coach Hansi Flick have to prepare for against the Romans in two weeks?

Gunesch:

Bayern definitely have to be careful.

Lazio survived the preliminary round undefeated, even if they didn't march through in the BVB group.

But the Romans are an uncomfortable team that also had a weaker period in November and December.

But recently Simone Inzaghi's team has been in really good shape again.

Only Ciro Immobile will tell the fans in Germany something.

But who will you have to pay special attention to at Bayern now?

Gunesch:

Sure, Immobile is above all gate technology.

For me personally, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is a player to watch out for.

He's tall, physically present, has great playmaking qualities, is really strong technically.

He's now playing at a consistently high level in his third year and could take the next step in the summer. 

Interview: Florian Schimak