After being relegated from the 3rd division, FC Bayern’s U23s want to return directly to the third-highest German division. In the Bavarian regional league, the Munich team is currently only second, a full eight points behind SpVgg Bayreuth – a fact that makes planning for the coming season extremely difficult.
“The experience of the last few years – promotion, champions, relegation and now regional league again – has meant that we are preparing for both scenarios in the best possible way,” said youth boss Jochen Sauer in an interview with “kicker”.
The 3rd league is so strong and narrow that “with a U23 you can’t guarantee that you can plan for the next five years in this league even as a champion”.
Sauer went on to explain: “If we don’t get promoted, the boys who were already in the 3rd division and have now played 30 games in the regional league simply have to take the next step, especially in the older age groups.”
The main problem is the departure of top performers. “If you play a good season as an U23, like we did in our championship season, then this is automatically accompanied by a loss of substance that you cannot guarantee that you will always be able to adequately absorb if you primarily rely on young players want,” Sauer continued.
Praise for the competition from FC Bayern
That’s why they rely on many young, talented players on Säbener Straße, who should get used to senior football and use the regional league to get better.
Even if promotion this season is unlikely given Bayreuth’s lead, Sauer praised the team to the skies.
“The team plays good football and, despite being relatively far behind Bayreuth at the moment, has a tally of points that would have been enough for a place in most other seasons,” said the 49-year-old: “So if it wasn’t enough this season in the end , then it was mainly due to a very strong opponent and not because we had played a bad season.”