Trusting Local Talent More: Mathias' Argument for Bayern Munich - Bayern Munich's Matthäus argues for greater faith in the club's own homegrown abilities.
In a recent statement, footballing legend Lothar Matthäus has called on FC Bayern Munich to place more faith in their own talents, suggesting that the club's management often spends excessively on new players instead of nurturing and developing their existing young talents from the academy.
Matthäus, a former record German national soccer player, believes that relying more on homegrown players is both financially prudent and beneficial for team cohesion. He points to the emotional sale of Toni Kroos as one of the biggest mistakes in the club's history, indicating a failure to retain and trust key talents developed within the club.
Matthäus also raises concerns about how Bayern integrates youth players such as Aznou, Wanner, Pavlovic, Kane, Musiala, and Davies, highlighting a broader issue in not effectively promoting academy prospects into the first team. He notes the practical need for a squad of around 22 outfield players to handle workload and injuries properly, suggesting that having enough trusted internal talents can help cover these demands without excessive external recruitment.
One such versatile talent Matthäus has highlighted is Paul Wanner, who can play on Jamal Musiala's position. Unfortunately, Musiala is currently out due to a dislocation of the ankle joint and a fibula fracture. Matthäus has criticized the departures of talents like Adam Aznou (FC Everton) and Frans Krätzig (FC Red Bull Salzburg) from FC Bayern, suggesting that other clubs might see potential in them that Bayern does not. He believes these transfers are blocking young professionals from Bayern's youth system from advancing.
In a test match against Olympique Lyon last Saturday, Vincent Kompany, the coach of FC Bayern Munich, started several players from the youth academy, including Wanner and Lennart Karl. However, Matthäus did not mention any specific roles for these young players in the match or their individual performance. He has suggested that Wanner deserves playing time in upcoming Bundesliga games against Leipzig, Augsburg, and HSV.
The match between FC Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyon ended in a 2:1 victory for Bayern, with no specific details provided about the roles these young players played or their individual performance. The games mentioned in this article were test matches, implying they may not have been regular league or cup games.
This article was published by Sky.
In the substitutes' bench for Bayern were Jonah Kusi-Asare (18), David Daiber (18) and Cassiano Kiala (16). The location of the games mentioned is Munich (Bayern). FC Bayern Munich has transferred players like João Palhinha and Bryan Zaragoza, who did not take on much of a sporting role in Munich.
[1] Matthäus's comments come after Bayern's recent transfer of Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig for a reported €42.5 million.
[2] Matthäus's call for more homegrown talent echoes similar sentiments expressed by former Bayern players such as Oliver Kahn and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
[3] Matthäus's criticism of the club's integration of youth players is not new. In 2020, he criticized the club for not promoting Joshua Zirkzee, who eventually moved to Roma on loan.
[4] Matthäus's comments come at a time when Bayern is facing criticism for its transfer strategy, with some fans and pundits calling for a shift towards a more sustainable and youth-focused approach.
The Commission, in light of Matthäus's calls for more homegrown talent at FC Bayern Munich, might consider proposing a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in sports, such as football or soccer, as a means to nurture and retain young talents within the club.
In the spirit of Lothar Matthäus's recommendations, FC Bayern Munich's management could invest in repairing and retrofitting their training facilities with relevant safety equipment, providing a safer and better environment for the young athletes to develop and perform, much like how they invest in acquisition of new players.
