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Sometimes not a substitute for a center forward, but active on the left: Choupo-Moting
Photo: KERSTIN JOENSSON / AFP
After the final whistle, Hansi Flick could have talked about the renewed defensive deficits, about coordination problems between David Alaba and Jérôme Boateng in front of the Cologne connecting gate to the interim 1: 2.
"We'll analyze that," said coach Flick: "Just sleeping on it is sometimes very good."
And then he said that it was important to be “happy with a 5: 1”.
FC Bayern were satisfied in many ways that afternoon, with the sovereign final result as well as the fact that they found their way back in the Bundesliga after losing five points against Bielefeld (3: 3) and Eintracht Frankfurt (1: 2) to have.
You are back on track for the ninth championship in a row.
The most important thing was the realization that you were ready for the top game against Borussia Dortmund next Saturday (6.30 p.m., live ticker SPIEGEL.de; TV: Sky).
Against Cologne it became clear that Bayern now have more options again after a relatively thin staffing level - which is also due to the gradual return of injured and sick players.
And an idea from Coach Flick.
The only change compared to Tuesday's starting line-up against Lazio in the Champions League was Flick's attacker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for Kingsley Coman.
Choupo-Moting, who was otherwise allowed to play as a substitute for Robert Lewandowski as a center forward or in the center behind the front, was now allowed to prove himself on the left wing.
The now 31-year-old played before his time at Paris St. Germain (here he only played occasionally on the left wing) and FC Bayern regularly in this position, whether in Mainz, Schalke 04 or Stoke City in the Premier League.
Outside left, there was his regular seat.
Flick remembered the left winger Choupo-Moting again.
Flick likes to look back at the careers of individual players: In which position who played in the past?
Where did he feel particularly at home back then, where could he develop best and help the team the most?
It was the same with Corentin Tolisso at the beginning of the season, when Flick analyzed many of his games at Olympique Lyon again - and then positioned the French more strongly in the role of eight in the central midfield.
Now Choupo-Moting got his old role back.
He doesn't run away from the opponents like the fast Kingsley Coman, but he can annoy them when he pulls the defenders into uncomfortable duels, as he did against Cologne.
And he also scored: his 1-0 header was his first Bundesliga goal for Bayern at the premiere as a left winger.
The Cologne game did not answer whether he is also an option against stronger opponents.
However, Choupo-Moting is unlikely to get around a fit Coman at the moment.
Goretzka was the man of the day
Thomas Müller returned, who celebrated his comeback after his corona infection and came out for Jamal Musiala after a good hour.
Müller's return is also important insofar as Musiala sometimes seemed overwhelmed against Cologne after a turbulent week.
His starting eleven debut in the Champions League, the goal to 2-0 against Lazio and thus immortalization in the statistics as Bayern's youngest top scorer in the premier class, his decision to play for the German national team in the future - a lot has rattled on Musiala recently .
Thanks to Müller's return, the teenager was able to take it easy - and Müller was then directly involved in the preliminary decision: He was on the pitch for half a minute when he prepared the 3-1 through Robert Lewandowski.
But Flick chose another player as the outstanding player, Leon Goretzka, who shone with three assists in his second starting XI after suffering from Corona.
“For me he was the player of the day today.” Goretzka is also likely to be a decisive factor in Bayern's hope of winning the championship and Champions League double in the remaining three months after the triple year.
FC Bayern have already been eliminated from the DFB Cup.
After a bit of bumpy weeks, Bayern are exuding greater confidence again.
And a good feeling for surprises in the line-up or when individual players are closed could help in the coming weeks.
Maybe Flick will soon take on the video of 4: 2 at Mainz 05 in Hoffenheim.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting made an outstanding game with one goal and one assist.
Back then, in March 2014, even as a right-winger.
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