The contemplative Christmas mood and the anticipation of 2024 have put a mild mood in people everywhere – but not in the sport.de editorial team! We allow ourselves to tease you with a few provocative theses between the years.
Thesis: FC Bayern will not win a title in 2023/24!
Marc Affeldt: The last time there was a season in which FC Bayern did not win a title was in 2011/12. For the majority of the approximately eleven million children in Germany, this scenario is probably as tangible as the moon landing or the fall of the Wall – that could change.
The Munich team have already canceled the cup, in the league, Xabi Alonso, of all people, has turned the gray mouse Bayer Leverkusen into a sexy title favorite in the form of Xabi Alonso, and in the Champions League the hurdles on the way to the title also seem too high.
Jannik Kube: “The same procedure as every year” – the Bundesliga will ultimately become a “dinner for one” again, namely for FC Bayern! Bayer Leverkusen will challenge Munich for a long time, but will come away empty-handed in the end. In the Champions League, however, Manchester City and Real Madrid end up being a stumbling block for Bayern.
Chris Rohdenburg: Bayern won’t win a title, but they’ll get a new coach! DFB Cup? Gone! Champions League? A game of chance that can quickly be lost! And the championship? Well, there is a team that is not only well put together, but is also trained that way and therefore plays outstandingly: Bayer Leverkusen.
The only problem – for the Werkself: Coach Xabi Alonso arouses desire. And Bayern wouldn’t be Bayern if they didn’t get back at their worst opponent by at least buying away their most important man. For Thomas Tuchel it is now: Pfiati!
Emmanuel Schneider: The thing is: When it matters, FC Bayern is always there. Okay, except in Saarbrücken in the cup. The cup is already gone, in the Champions League it will be more than a herculean task against the Real Madrids of the world. The championship remains. And it will probably stay the same as it almost always does. Leverkusen becomes vice-president once again, FC Bayern celebrates the – eleventh, twelfth, is anyone still counting? – Championship in series. At the latest, it was extremely dramatic on the last day of the match.
Lissy Beckonert: That depends on the winter transfers. FC Bayern cannot keep up with the current squad in the Champions League. Tuchel simply has too few alternatives to be able to stand up to Bayer Leverkusen. However, with good new additions, the Munich team can achieve the double.
Christian Schenzel: I fear that Leverkusen will pay a high price with the forced retirements for the Africa Cup, after all, three regular players are leaving for four or five games – and then come back exhausted. That hurts. At the same time, Bayern is the only German team that can spend huge amounts of money and add personnel in the winter. This will create the basis for the title.
In the Champions League this year there is no outstanding team that will outplay everyone. As of today, I wouldn’t bet against Munich there either.