For top strikers Harry Kane, FC Bayern’s squad feels too thin. Sports director Christoph Freund also sees room for improvement, but the squad shouldn’t be too big either. A problem will probably continue to be the defense.
With the Supercup brought FC Bayern the first trophy of the 2025/26 season. Now a good start to the Bundesliga season is to follow on Friday.
Harry Kane criticizes squad size from FC Bayern
The basis for a successful season will be a good team structure. But striker Harry Kane is not yet 100 percent convinced that everything fits there. The FC Bayern squad is not yet sufficient for the Bundesliga goalkeeper king.
“It is probably one of the smallest squads I have ever played in,” said Kane, who has been gaining experience as a professional experience for 14 years, before the start (Friday, from 8.30 p.m. Live on the RadioPeportage at BR24 Sport) against RB Leipzig. The 32-year-old added the German record champions “a bit thinly set up when we are honest. But as a player we as a player cannot influence it.”
Still open places on the offensive and defensive
On the offensive, positions could still be filled after the departures of Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sané, Mathys Tel and Bayern veteran Thomas Müller. With Luis Díaz, a top-class attacker has so far been successful for the tasks in the Bayern storm.
And this is how sports director Christoph Freund can imagine further newcomers: Among other things, you have “a lot of quality” on the offensive with the transfer of Díaz, says friend: “But of course we are not so big in terms of quantity”.
There is no reliable Kane back-up
After the negotiations with VfB to the transfer of Nick Woltemade, which could play on the nine (as a Harry-Kane-Backup), but also on the Thomas Müller position, has not yet led to the desired result, the Munich hope of Christopher Nkunku from FC Chelsea still hopes.
Nkunku could occupy both the central storm tip and the role of the creative playmaker and the wing positions. In any case, sports director Max Eberl is said to be convinced of the versatility of the 27-year-old and wants to continue the negotiations. However, these are becoming increasingly difficult due to the recently collected cancellations, since the emitted clubs know the “need” of Bayern.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer sees the personnel position still relaxed and optimistic. He “has the feeling that something else happens. But as I say every summer: we trust our person responsible who do their homework.”
Friend: “Quality very, very high”
After all, two regulars will return with the currently injured stars Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies. Aleksandar Pavlovic also trained with the team two and a half weeks after his eye-catch surgery at the start of the week.
Because of the expected comebacks, according to Freund, “the squad should not be too big. From this it is important to find a good mix.” In addition, friend emphasized that the quality is already “very, very high. We are very well positioned.”
Ex-Bayern star Lothar Matthäus also sees the Munich-based company prepared thanks to young talents. Striker Lennart Karl recently enchanted the fans in the test games With dream goals and wild dribbling. Also The highly talented Paul Wanner Could bring in his potential on the offensive.
But Vincent Kompany has to bravely use the youngsters in his second season as the chief coach of the record champion in the competitive games so that they and talents like Jonah Kusi-Asare (18) can collect game practice. FC Barcelona could be a model. There, the former FCB coach Hansi Flick has started one of the youngest teams in Europe in the past season. The success confirmed his approach. In addition to the double, the Spaniards played in the Champions League to the semi -finals.
Can Tah also organize the defense against Munich?
While the offensive around Kane with a fit Musiala should not be really weaker, the defense remains the problem child of FC Bayern. Last season, the Munich team was susceptible to counterattacks and were not stable enough on the defensive.
Defense chief Dayot Upamecano and Min-Jae Kim-who continues to be one of the sales candidates-were not always able to convince internationally. After the violation of Hiroki Ito and the farewell to Eric dier (as Monaco), newcomer Jonathan Tah still needs active support to secure the title destinations in the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Champions League this year.
Konrad Laimer had recently bought, but with the selling candidates Raphael Guerreiro and Sacha Boey, you only move at the outdoor positions at average.
Hoeneß advocates “very” for loan players
From Uli Hoeneß’s point of view, there will be no further commitment at Bayern Munich this summer. “I would very much advocate filling the squad with a loan player who will be contracted until June 30, 2026,” said the honorary president of the German football record champions of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”.
Table leadership and relegation battle, current gameplays, results and live tickers, scoring lists, mileage and duel statistics and much more: Football in the results center of BR24Sport.
That is the European perspective at BR24.
Source: BR24Sport on radio 19.08.2025 – 1:54 p.m.
