Recently, FC Bayern’s defensive mistakes have increased. Can this become a problem in the crucial phase of the season, especially in the Champions League?
This risk comes with their offensive style of play. Ultimately, this was also due to the fact that a lot of players were given playing time who were coming back from injuries – Alphonso Davies, Jamal Musiala, Hiroki Itō. Overall, Bayern can only beat themselves at the moment. The 2-1 win at Paris Saint-Germain showed where Bayern are having problems at the top international level. Arsenal in particular exposed this in the 3-1 win against Bayern.
Is Bayern still one of the favorites in the Champions League?
Definitely. They also came second in the league phase. They have now significantly strengthened the team, especially with Díaz and Tah, as far as the first eleven is concerned. That’s why I see them as one of the big contenders for the title.
Do you actually know what you have in common with Thomas Tuchel?
Yes, I’ve heard that before.
So far, only the two of you have achieved full points in the theoretical exam for the DFB’s A coaching license.
It was mainly about analysis and quick assessment of game situations. That is my strength and also something that is now in great demand as an expert at DAZN: finding solutions quickly. And in this case, to explain it to the audience. That has always been my strength as a coach and assistant coach.
When Kompany came to Munich in the summer of 2024, you were in discussion as a possible assistant coach. How concrete was the contact back then – and why didn’t it happen?
There have already been one or two phone calls. Kompany already had contact with René Marić through the football teacher training course – and his coaching team was already in his head somewhere. And I wasn’t there. But this is a normal and usual process. That was the end of it for me again.
Would such a return have been fundamentally appealing to you?
At that point in time, that would have been very appealing to me.
In 2023 you led VfL Osnabrück to promotion to the 2nd league as head coach. Why didn’t you continue as a coach after that?
I keep getting requests, almost every month. I listened to them, analyzed them, but mostly canceled them relatively quickly.
Because I was asked to be an expert at DAZN relatively quickly and I really enjoy it. I also used the time to build up a few other mainstays on the side, Gamecode being one of them. I am busy with these tasks. I’m also home with my family almost six days a week now, which wasn’t the case before. At the moment all of this just fulfills me and I’m very happy with it.
Most recently, your name was mentioned again among the coaching candidates at FC Bayern’s youth campus. That would be interesting for you?
No. Due to my other current tasks, almost all coaching jobs are not interesting for me at the moment. The Bayern campus is another topic in its own right.
I worked there for Bayern for three years, and we won our last youth championship to date.
You mean the B junior championship with the U17 in the 2016/17 season.
Yes. But that was nine years ago. If they had wanted my expertise, then they would certainly have found a solution for me to stay at the club.
What do you mean exactly?
In the past, a few things didn’t go as expected in a good and successful collaboration over a total of six years (from 2012 to 2015, Schweinsteiger played for the FC Bayern amateurs; editor’s note). I think we did a very good job and came second with the second team in the Regionalliga Bayern with a very young team. But there has been no request from Bayern to me. The fact that my name pops up when a position becomes available, especially here in the region, is perhaps somewhat normal. Maybe because my last name always drags.
It was and is similar with Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß. Overall, there are some parallels between the two of you. He also laid the foundation for his career as head coach at the Bayern campus. So are you taking a closer look at its development?
We always have good conversations when we meet at the stadium. During his time in Bayern’s youth department, it may not have been that easy. Not between us, but overall between the parties there at the time. I really like the way he plays football with Stuttgart. He has really developed greatly as head coach. And with his proximity to FC Bayern, he is of course always a candidate who would also be considered there.
