Four of our writers got together to review the ’17-18 Bayern Munich season, discussing our players of the season among a few other topics.
Player of the season
Benjamin Scott
James Rodriguez. For me, choosing the Bayern Munich player of the season was pretty easy. The Colombian was simply on another level for much of the campaign. Seven goals and 11 assists in 23 Bundesliga matches is a good tally for any midfielder, but its a truly exceptional amount for a player to record in his debut season.
He has immediately added a new level of versatility and creativity to the Bavarian midfield. If he keeps up his level of play, James will be a key player for years to come.
A special mention should also be given to Kingsley Coman, who missed the final third of the season due to injury. Bayern were all the worse without the Frenchman, and — had he remained fit — there’s a good chance Coman could have been a difference maker for Bayern against Real Madrid and cemented himself as the player of the season.
Garett Kerber
Joshua Kimmich. For me, Joshua Kimmich is the player of the season. No other player stood out as being as consistently impactful as the young German. 6 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, plus a staunch reputation of being an excellent defender on the right, helped cement it for me.
I am struggling to think of a match he didn’t perform at a high level or seemed like he wasn’t positively effecting the match. He has filled in the hole left by Lahm excellently.
Kiran Thakare
Joshua Kimmich. Bayern Munich started this season without their most consistent player throughout the last 10 years. Philipp Lahm announced his retirement at the end of the last season. Rather than buying a replacement for the legendary full-back, Bayern turned to young Joshua Kimmich.
It was a huge ask for the 23-year-old midfielder, who endured a disappointing campaign under Carlo Ancelotti (despite some great performances). There were even reports about his exit thanks to a lack of gametime under the Italian.
However, Kimmich stayed in Bavaria and went on to complete the turnaround, making the ’17-18 campaign his best season in a Bayern Munich shirt. The German international maintained amazing consistency throughout the season. He was the most productive full-back in Europe and ended the season with six goals and 13 assists in all competitions.
Kimmich still has a lot to improve in his game, especially his defending. But he is likely to only improve further next season. It will be interesting to see how his productivity in the final third increases if Niko Kovac prefers to use him as a wing-back.
Guillermo Kurten
James Rodriguez. Despite Bayern Munich having far from their best season, there were some standout performers. In this case, one of the most clear highlights of the season was James Rodriguez. The Colombian had a notable debut season after making a shocking (loan) move from Real Madrid.
James has been dynamite for the German giants, creating 13 assists in all competitions and showcasing his ability to string together crisp and accurate passing averages. The Colombian star brings a dynamic and creative flair to Bayern Munich’s midfield. His addition provides an instant injection of world-class talent from which Bayern have only benefitted.
Despite the bargain acquisition of James Rodriguez, Bayern’s executives shouldn’t get overconfident. The club is still relying heavily on two particular wingers only ageing further into their 30’s. As flexible and versatile as James is, he’s best in the middle of the pitch when allowed to roam and create.
Surprise of the season
Guillermo Kurten
Sven Ulreich. For me, the biggest surprise this season was Sven Ulreich. Quite frankly, few could have predicted that Bayern’s deputy keeper was capable of performing at such a high level. Unfortunately, Ulreich himself was initially given very little faith. But any keeper would have a mountain to climb in filling Manuel Neuer’s boots.
Under Carlo Ancelotti Ulreich had trouble finding his footing between the sticks. Bayern’s number two had an admittedly rough start, making some shocking errors.
Since then, Sven Ulreich has rightfully earned himself a contract extension for his heroics in goal while filling in for Manuel Neuer. It was gut-wrenching, however, seeing him let in Karim Benzema’s second goal in Bayern’s second-leg match against Real Madrid. It’s unfair that this will cement some people’s impression of Bayern’s backup goalkeeper who had an otherwise outstanding season.
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Garett Kerber
The post-Ancelotti turnaround. This squad looked so dysfunctional, old, and un-Bayern that my expectation for a good season was finishing top of the Bundesliga but nowhere near any other silverware. Jupp Heynckes came back after so much time away and immediately FCB looked like a juggernaut again.
Kiran Thakare
The return of Jupp Heynckes. There was a lot of speculation around the vacant managerial post after Carlo Ancelotti was sacked in September. Thomas Tuchel was the firm favorite to get the job as he was free after leaving Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Julian Nagelsmann was also linked with the job. However, Bayern shocked the world when they hired Jupp Heynckes on an interim basis.
Heynckes returned to Bavaria for his fourth tenure with the club — he retired from the game after winning the historic treble with Bayern in 2013. Jupp turned Bayern’s fortunes on their head in his short term with the club. The Bavarians clinched the Bundesliga title comfortably and came close to booking a place in the Champions League final. However, his tenure saw a disappointing end when Bayern were convincingly defeated by Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal last weekend.
Benjamin Scott
Niklas Sule’s excellent debut season. I would say Joshua Kimmich’s excellent debut season at right-back, but I never had any doubts about the young man’s ability in the position. Instead, I’ll go for Niklas Sule.
When Sule joined Bayern, nobody doubted the talents of the German giant. However, few could have predicted how easily he’d slot into this Bayern side. He scored Bayern’s debut goal of the Bundesliga campaign and never looked back.
Each week he was a genuine contender for a starting place in the Bavarian backline, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him play an important role for Germany at the World Cup this summer.
Disappointment of the season
Kiran Thakare
Deja vu in the Champions League. Yet another disappointing end to the Champions League for Bayern Munich. The Bavarians have failed to reach the final of the competition since 2013. After suffering three consecutive semi-final defeats under Pep Guardiola and another disappointing exit under Ancelotti in the ’16-17 season, many hoped this would be Bayern’s year.
However, the Bavarians felt short at the semi-final stage once again. They shouldn’t necessarily be disappointed with their performances in the games. The team delivered very good performances in both legs and dominated Madrid. But they just failed to polish their performances with output in clutch situations of both games. Bayern need to build on these performances and come back strong in the Champions League next season.
Benjamin Scott
Other Bundesliga clubs. Despite Bayern’s fantastic turnaround under Jupp Heynckes, much of their dominance in Germany’s top flight is owed to the dismal season for other top Bundesliga clubs.
After a great start to the season, Borussia Dortmund capitulated and never looked close to being genuine competitors. RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke and Hoffenheim all ended the season in decent positions, but struggled to find consistency and never really threatened to knock Bayern off their perch atop the Bundesliga table.
Next season, it’d not only be nice to see other German clubs find success in European play, but to actually provide Bayern Munich with some real competition domestically.
Guillermo Kurten
An early exit from Champions League play. It should come as no surprise to anyone that Bayern’s biggest disappointment of the season was none other than the heartbreaking UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of — once again — Real Madrid. This was the second consecutive season in which the Bavarian giants suffered at the hands of Real.
Likewise, it was yet another season in which Bayern Munich suffered an exit from Champions League play to a Spanish side. Quite frankly, this should come as a wake-up call to the management of the club.
Bayern Munich used to be commonly referred to as La Bestia Negra (the Black Beast) in Spain. Unfortunately, it seems like those days are gone, at least for the time being. All the semi-final exits (and one quarter-final exit) to Spanish sides have to serve as a siren for change. Bayern will need to make personnel changes to stay competitive in Europe.
Garett Kerber
The semi-final loss to Real Madrid. The UEFA Champions League semi-final was by far the biggest disappointment for me. To look, in my estimation, so much like the better side in both legs and lose — not entirely due to bad refereeing, but certainly in large part — was just gut-wrenching. Losing to Real Madrid again makes it even worse.
Moment of the season
Garett Kerber
Overcoming the Parisians. My moment of the season was beating PSG 3-1 in the group stage of the UCL. Ancelloti was sacked after losing 3-0 to the Parisians so, poetically, beating them with the new old coach, and with relative ease, signaled this team had figured things out. This match took place on December 5, 2017, and Bayern didn’t lost until March 18, 2018. This game set the tone for the rest of the year in my mind.
Kiran Thakare
Carlo Ancelotti’s departure. Bayern Munich endured a very poor start to the campaign. They were consistently dropping points, and there was no structure in their performances. Even in their victories they were hardly convincing. There were rumors last summer about players being unhappy with Ancelotti’s methods. The reports grew stronger as Bayern had a terrible pre-season tour.
Ancelotti’s men were set to play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League group stage. The first leg of this game eventually turned out to be the last game for the Italian manager. His team selection for the match in Paris was very strange as many senior players were left on the bench. This basically confirmed that Ancelotti had lost the dressing room.
Bayern delivered their worst performance in quite some time and were defeated 3-0 by the Parisians. The German champions finally pulled the trigger and sacked Carlo Ancelotti the following day. Interestingly, this was the first sacking Bayern have made since Louis Van Gaal in 2011.
Benjamin Scott
Corentin Tolisso’s second goal against Paris Saint-Germain. My moment of the season is a very specific one. The 69th minute at home against PSG. Bayern are up 2-1, but thoroughly dominating their opponents.
Kingsley Coman beats Dani Alves to a through ball on the left flank and blazes past the ageing right-back toward the Parisians’ goal. He cuts inside and feints a shot before sliding an inch-perfect pass into the path of oncoming Corentin Tolisso. Coco wastes no touches and fires the ball into the back of the net for his second goal of the game.
At that moment, all was right for Bayern Munich. Two youngsters combined to great effect, scoring a massive goal and showcasing what the club has in store for the future. They had put the nail in the coffin of the team that had humiliated them just a couple months prior. Gone were the dreadful days of Carlo Ancelotti. Jupp Heynckes was at the club, and under him anything was possible.
The euphoria of that moment and its many implications simply wasn’t overcome at any other stage of the season.
Guillermo Kurten
Jupp returns. The most dramatic moment of the season is undoubtedly the appointment of Jupp Heynckes. Following the dramatic collapse in the 3-0 loss away to PSG, the Bayern Munich higher-ups thought that consequences needed to be distributed. Unfortunately for Carlo Ancelotti, he was on the receiving end of those consequences.
For a brief period of time, it looked as if Bayern’s management was destined to follow up with Thomas Tuchel. Instead, Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge set the tone with the season’s most defining moment in bringing back Jupp Heynckes. With the treble-winning manager’s help, the Bavarian ship was steered back in the right direction, at least in the Bundesliga.
Next: David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich could be key for Niko Kovac at Bayern Munich
Controversially, however, I don’t think Heynckes alone was the answer to Bayern’s problems. Bayern Munich, despite having another league title, were far from their best this season. This has been highlighted by the Champions League and DFB Cup exits. Despite having some of the best defensive pieces in Europe, the backline was shockingly frail, at least by Bayern standards.