Bayern Munich defenders endure mixed season- Player Grades

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Jerome Boateng and David Alaba, Bayern Munich. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Experienced duo shore up the defense

David Alaba -9/10

As soon as Flick got the job, he was forced to continue using David Alaba in central defense after Lucas Hernandez and Niklas Sule suffered serious injuries in October. It was a decision that helped Bayern to get composure back in their defending.

Alaba played in this position under Pep Guardiola, so he seamlessly slotted in the heart of the defense. The Austrian is a complete defender. His pace allows him to make astute recovery tackles, while his clever positioning helps him to read the game properly. Joshua Kimmich insisted that Alaba is the best central defender in the world.

On the ball, there is hardly any better defender than Alaba. His presence at the back allowed Die Roten to build moves better. His line-breaking passes helped the team in progressing the play better. Along with being world-class in these qualities, Alaba is also good at scoring free-kicks. His goal against Bayer Leverkusen in DFB Pokal highlighted his deadball quality. Alaba is currently negotiating a new deal with Die Roten as there is growing optimism that he will extend his stay. His future looks certainly in the heart of the defense.

Jerome Boateng– 8/10

Boateng was enduring a frustrating season when Flick took the reins of the first team. He was third/fourth choice center-back at the club. It wouldn’t have surprised anyone if he had left the club during the winter transfer window.

However, his fortune changed completely when Flick decided to pair him up with Alaba in the defense. The team struck gold as the duo delivered consistent performance every week. Boateng was playing his best football since the departure of Guardiola in 2016.

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The German defender’s lack of pace made him vulnerable, but his ability to sniff danger helped him in reducing errors. There was never a doubt about Boateng’s ability on the ball. He is still one of the best in terms of playing out from the back. The German center-back gave Die Roten impetus in the build-up with his crisp long and short passing. It was a shame that he had to come off in the first half against PSG in the final due to an injury. However, he might have reinvented himself and earned at least one more year at the club with his consistent performances this season.