Four Takeaways as Bayern Munich narrowly escape Wolfsburg

21 December 2019, Bavaria, Munich: Football: Bundesliga, Bayern Munich - VfL Wolfsburg, 17th matchday in the Allianz Arena. Munich's players cheer with Serge Gnabry (3rd from left) about his goal for 2-0. Photo: Angelika Warmuth/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the regulations of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga and the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to exploit or have exploited in the stadium and/or from the game taken photographs in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo series. (Photo by Angelika Warmuth/picture alliance via Getty Images) /

2 of 5

MUNICH, GERMANY – DECEMBER 21: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Javi Martinez of FC Bayern Muenchen injured during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and VfL Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on December 21, 2019, in Munich, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

The winter break comes at the right time for Bayern

Bayern ended the Hinrunde in third place in the Bundesliga table, and the break could not have come at a better time. It was fairly evident in this match that the team is tired. Several injuries have severely limited the squad, so proper rotation has been lacking, and the bench has been primarily youth team players.

Having youth players in the squad isn’t a bad thing, but when the coach can’t make substitutions because of a lack of experienced first-team players, issues arise. The break will allow the team to rest for a while before returning for a mini-camp and then the Ruckrunde.

Players such as Corentin Tolisso, Leon Goretzka, Kingsley Coman, and Javi Martinez can use the break to recover from their injuries and rejoin the squad at full health without being rushed back. Another aspect to the break is it will allow the board to either sign manager Hansi Flick for the rest of the season or go in another direction. Either way, a plan will be put in place for the spring of 2020.