We put your questions to Bayern Central blogger Michel Munger ahead of Juve’s Champions League clash against the German Champions.
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What do Bayern fans think about Juventus on the whole (Their opinion on the team)?
I believe there is a lot of respect for Juve. We see them as an excellent football team with a great coach. Tactically smart with plenty of individual class. There is a genuine sentiment that they have a chance when going into this tie.
How as Vidal fared so far on the pitch? Do you think he’s improved or regressed since his time at Juve?
Many fans criticised his performance. However, I think that a part of the problem is the inability of box-to-box midfielders to play for Pep Guardiola. Vidal is one of many central midfielders who struggle, especially when Xabi Alonso is on the pitch. Box-to-box guys like to roam everywhere and they cannot do that with Alonso around.
If you don’t win the CL this season, do you consider Pep’s reign could be viewed as a “failure”?
Yes and no. Guardiola has been highly successful at Bayern, becoming almost unbeatable in the Bundesliga. On the other hand, he was not brought on to win just the league. The treble earned by Jupp Heynckes made winning the Champions League obligatory for his legacy.
In terms of tactics, how would Bayern do in Serie A?
I believe it would keep winning games and it would top the league, but we would see less 5:1 or 4:0 blowout games. Scorelines would be closer. Italian sides tend to be better defensively than Bundesliga teams.
If Bayern could take one player from Juve (money no object) who would they take & how would he improve Bayern?
Paul Pogba. He has a powerful right foot and he is a workhorse in the midfield.
With all these injuries, what is/are your weaknesses? – With all these injuries, what is/are still your strengths?
Central defence remains a question mark because the makeshift back line remains untested at a very high level. Aerial duels and set pieces have been and remain Bayern’s weakest links. Not having tall central defenders can make it worse.
Your Juve & Bayern combined XI?
Keeping injuries in mind…
Neuer
Lahm – Bonucci – Chiellini – Evra
Vidal – Pogba
Robben – Müller – Costa
Lewandowski
If we had anybody but Manuel Neuer as a goalkeeper, Gigi Buffon would be my choice.
How do you feel about Ancelotti taking over next season?
Amazing. I believe he will be a more tactically flexible, practical coach who will use the best strengths in the squad instead of implementing a rigid ball control philosophy!
What mistakes did juve make against Bayern last time, and what do they need to do differently this time?
I would not say that they made a major mistake. They faced a perfect Bayern squad that took no prisoners. The 2013 edition was too complete for anybody to match.
What do you consider to be Juve’s greatest weakness?
I believe they could be a little better on the ball. Against
How would you rate this Bayern Squad vs the treble winning group that last faced Juve
The treble team was 10 out of 10. This Bayern squad is an 8. It does not often play the direct football it should and the coach makes big mistakes in the big games. Remember how Pep gambled on attacking instead of being conservative against Real Madrid and Barcelona.
What do you fear the most above Juventus and Allegri
They could defend to death and counterattack us, and shut everything down after scoring a goal.
What is the game plan for your back line?
It will most likely go up, control the ball, cross the middle of the pitch and be weak against the counterattack.
Will Benatia or Tasci be fit for Tuesday?
Medhi Benatia has only resumed team training recently. He may be fit to play a few minutes, but I doubt he can start. Serdar Tasci is fit to play, but he may not have earned the coach’s trust when he stopped defending against Darmstadt. They scored a goal that he could have prevented.
As we all know, Guardiola is about to leave Bayern. He has admitted he is already thinking about his team at City. Will this have a positive or negative influence on Bayerns campaigns? (domestic/CL)
It is hard to believe that he will be 100% focused on the task. It also is hard to believe that players completely trust him after learning about his intention on TV! This is speculation on my part, of course, but I believe that football coaches and players are human after all.
Both teams will have to do with a lot of injuries, mainly defensive ones. Which team will be worse off?
A fully healthy Bayern could blow past any team, perhaps even FC Barcelona. It is diminished by injuries to important players such as Javi Martínez and Jérôme Boateng. I believe Juve is doing better without a couple of key players.
Prediction/Expectations for the game in Turin?
I would be happy with a draw or a 1:0 win. Bringing this kind of score back to the Allianz Arena would make it an almost-automatic win because Bayern is unbeatable at home nowadays.
How do you rate Kingsley Coman?
Highly. His intelligence on the ball and ability to find spaces for passes to his mates are remarkable. Nobody expected him to make his mark so quickly in Munich. All I can ask for is for the team to buy him soon.