After years of success under Pep Guardiola, Bayern Munich are set for a change this season under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti. Whilst the Pep years will be looked back upon fondly, Bayern have underperformed by their huge standards in Europe since lifting the Champions League in 2013.
Bundesliga success will be the minimum objective for Italian boss Ancelotti in his first year in charge but the performances on the European stage will be decisive to how he is judged- and, despite their frustrations, Bayern remain regulars in the latter stages of Europe’s elite competition.
With a number of high-profile recruits in the transfer window, and some departures, Bayern will be keen to kick their campaign off in perfect fashion. Here’s how we at Top Eleven believe the Bavarian giants could set-up this season.
Remarkably, after conceding just 17 goals in the league last season, Bayern Munich’s defence has got even stronger this summer. Manuel Neuer continues to command between the sticks, as well as outside of his area, and the defensive line in front of him will be extremely difficult to break down.
David Alaba has developed into one of the finest and most versatile young defenders in the world, whilst on the other side of defence the experienced Philipp Lahm will continue to be crucial. Jerome Boateng has a new defensive partner in the middle, his international colleague Mats Hummels, and the duo could create the best partnership in world football.
In a deep-role ahead of them, consecutive Copa America winner Arturo Vidal will look to continue his fine performances after a brilliant debut campaign with the club last term. His flowing relationship with a midfield duo ahead of him will also be vital, with it likely to see two of them supporting the attack whilst the other provides a cushion to the defence.
That pairing ahead of him may change throughout the season but it’s likely to include two Spaniards in Xabi Alonso and Thiago Alcantara. The ageing Alonso proved to be a brilliant acquisition for the Bavarians, with it bizarre that Real Madrid let him go, whilst Thiago has put his injury problems ahead of him to become a key-player for the German champions.
In the attack, Bayern now possess a trio that can rival Barcelona’s ‘MSN’ and Real Madrid’s ‘BBC’ with Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and youngster Renato Sanches.
Lewandowski is arguably the best out-and-out striker in world football right now and he’ll be looking to cement that claim with further honours this season, perhaps pushing Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the Ballon D’Or crown that they have dominated this decade.
Thomas Muller, one of the most under-rated forwards in world football, will continue to be a threatening outlet to the Bayern attack, whilst young Sanches was chased by the best clubs in the world earlier this summer before deciding to move to the Bundesliga.
What’s perhaps the most frightening is that Bayern Munich still boast a wealth of further talent in their squad, in the form of Kingsley Coman, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Douglas Costa, Joshua Kimmich, Rafinha, Javi Martinez and more- giving them arguably the best squad in world football.
The post Bayern Munich Tactics 16/17: Ancelotti looking to continue Bavarian dominance appeared first on Top Eleven's Football Blog.
from Top Eleven's Football Blog http://ift.tt/2ckAe8s
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