According to sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, Robert Lewandowski’s departure from FC Bayern has unleashed new strength on the offensive.
“There is no hiding behind Lewa,” emphasized the Bosnian in the football talk “Sky90”: “There are seven or eight people up front who make it up among themselves. Now everyone can take responsibility, score goals and show themselves.”
The exhilarating start to the season with spectacular victories in the Bundesliga (6-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt) and in the Supercup at RB Leipzig (5-3) gives Salihamidzic hope that the plan will work out in the long term.
“Competition was the idea – and we did it,” said the ex-pro proudly.
Salihamidzic also admitted that Bayern are considering another striker in case Sadio Mane’s transfer from Liverpool was not possible.
“We had the plan,” said the 45-year-old: “The way it went, it’s very good for us.”
Mané agreed to FC Bayern at the first meeting
Sadio Mané had apparently promised FC Bayern before the salary negotiations.
“At the first meeting, when we were in Liverpool, Mané immediately said: I’ll come to you,” revealed Salihamidzic: “We didn’t even talk about a number. The boy is just crazy!”
The 30-year-old is “a player who would certainly have made more money at other clubs,” added Salihamidzic. But Mané recognized “that we can win something with the team we have here”.
This also applies to newcomer Matthijs de Ligt, who came from Juventus Turin and was chosen as the new chief of defense in Munich.
“De Ligt is an absolute dream player of ours, actually for years. And FC Bayern Munich has been Matthijs de Ligt’s dream club for years,” said Bayern’s sporting director: “That fits like a glove.”
In view of the great identification of the newcomers, “his heart opens up,” said the ex-professional: “It’s also important that they burn for FC Bayern.”