Recent comments from new Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac suggest that the club will utilize more direct play under the Croatian.
Bayern Munich are on the brink of entering into a new era. The world of soccer is changing, and the Bavarians will be left behind if they don’t adapt with the times. Niko Kovac is the man tasked with leading them into this new era, and he looks up for the task.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm have already left the club; Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are entering the twilights of their careers. Younger players like Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Corentin Tolisso and Serge Gnabry represent the future of the club.
As Bayern takes on a more youth-oriented approach to their squad and transfer dealings, its fitting they bring in a manager who can shift their tactical approach as well. The appointment of Niko Kovac represents a step away from the possession-based tactics that have ruled the club since the days of Louis Van Gaal. In their place will come a more direct approach, focused less on keeping the ball and more on putting it in the back of the net.
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At least, that’s what his recent comments suggest (FAZ via Sport1).
"“Without speed, possession of the ball does not do much nowadays. And if the players go far in the endless combinations, the possession of the ball becomes even more dangerous, because if the ball is lost, there’s so much space for the opponent to counterattack.“The trend is clearly towards players who combine the skills of a sprinter with those of a juggler. They make the difference because they can still create something in the extremely tight spaces left by defenses. Switching the play, both offensively and defensively, naturally depends on speed.”"
For the past several seasons, Bayern Munich have consistently been exposed by teams who sat deep, pressed well and counter-attacked hard. One of the best examples of this, in fact, is Niko Kovac’s own Eintracht Frankfurt squad, who beat Bayern 3-1 in last season’s DFB Pokal final. As Germany and Spain’s disappointing World Cup campaigns showed, possession-only tactics no longer yield success.
Next: Both Bayern Munich and Germany miss Philipp Lahm's leadership
Soccer is trending in a direction based on speed and direct play. Those who fail to adapt risk being left behind. Fortunately for Bayern Munich, it looks as if they have just the man to lead them in the right direction.