Three factors that led to the treble win for Bayern Munich under Hansi Flick.
Bayern Munich completed a memorable season on Sunday with a 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Kingsley Coman got the goal in the game, which sealed Die Roten’s name in the history as they became the second club in Europe to win the treble twice.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for Bayern as they were struggling to be at the top of the Bundesliga when Niko Kovac parted ways with the club in November. Hansi Flick was given the caretaker role, which he eventually got permanently due to constant improvement shown by the team.
After suffering defeats against Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen at the start of December, Die Roten went on a remarkable run of form to clinch the Bundesliga. They won 19 out of their next 20 league games to retain the league title. A similar run in the DFB Pokal helped them to finish the domestic season on a strong note.
In Europe, Bayern were equally dominant as they were in the Bundesliga during Ruckrunde. The German champions went unbeaten in the Champions League, winning all 11 games to lift their sixth European trophy. Apart from the form of important players, here are three factors that led to such a memorable campaign for Die Roten.
Perfect man-management at Bayern Munich
Along with astute tactics, Hansi Flick also boasts top class man-management ability. The German manager showed in very little time that he could get the best out of older and younger players. Moreover, his ability to maintain composure in front of the media when asked about his players bodes well for the squad.
Jerome Boateng and Thomas Muller were seemingly on their way out of Bayern Munich. However, Flick’s management of both players helped them to enjoy their best campaign since the departure of Pep Guardiola in 2016. Both players ended up playing a lot of football in the second half of the squad, delivering top performances in big games.
Meanwhile, the progression of Alphonso Davies and Joshua Zirkzee shows that young players will also benefit under Flick. The former is considered as one of the best full-backs in the world, while the latter slowly and steadily became part of the first team. Both players are expected to take massive strides in their development next season.
Meanwhile, fringe players also had positive things to say about Flick. Philippe Coutinho struggled to play regularly under Flick, but he had nothing but glowing words to say about the manager. Yes, a big club needs a tactically efficient manager, but the man-management aspect also needs to be a priority considering the number of stars they have to manage at such a big club. Flick ticked both boxes handsomely, which enable the club to celebrate a treble win.
Instilling the old ethos of Bayern Munich quickly
In the last few seasons, Die Roten has looked a shadow of themselves. The team looked lethargic, and the pressing also often looked unorganized. Different managers have different styles of play, so you cannot point fingers on them. They stick with the approach that has worked for them over a long time.
Flick was also expected to instill his philosophy on the team. However, his philosophy looked very much like the team that won the treble in 2013. The team pressed aggressively throughout 90 minutes and developed a ruthless streak in the final third. Die Roten also often went direct whenever it was difficult to play out from the back.
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Bayern looked a much fitter squad, helping them to maintain a high level of intensity in every game. They never took their foot off the pedal when they were cruising to victories. All these qualities have a striking resemblance to the last treble-winning team, so it is no surprise that both teams went on achieving the same feat.
Flick will have more time with the squad next season to refine the style of play he wants to see his team play consistently. With a young group of players, the future looks brighter for Die Roten despite winning big prizes this season. If the German manager continues to keep the ethos of Bayern intact, then top clubs should brace themselves for Bavarian domination in the next couple of years.
Game management has improved at Bayern Munich
At the end of Hinrunde, Hansi Flick had few things to work on to enjoy good results in the second half of the season. Improving game management was one of the areas which needed improvement, and he has successfully done that. The German manager showed in the biggest game of the campaign that he knows how to make an impact on the game from sidelines.
The introduction of Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Perisic against PSG allowed the German champions to close down the game and make it difficult for the French club to make a come back in the game. Changes from the bench have been effective since the restart. The players on the pitch have also shown great composure when the team is looking to see out the game.
It is a sign of a good coach when he can spot deficiencies on the pitch during the game and change the shape of the team or introduce players that will change the course of the game. Flick has rarely changed the shape, but it would not be a surprise if he does it in the future since he has multifunctional players in the squad.
Next season is going to be difficult due to fixture pile up, so Flick will have to be even smarter with his changes and lineups to avoid fatigue and injuries. There is enough evidence that Flick adapts with different situations, so we can bank him out to deliver success next campaign.