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Motivated in Munich Bundesliga title an afterthought for new-look BayernPosted: Friday August 08, 2003 10:21 AM
It’s probably unfair to describe Bayern Munich as a sleeping giant, though there is little question that the club took at least a couple of cat-naps last fall when it was unceremoniously dumped in the first group stage of the Champions League. Immediately, there was talk of decline and suggestions that Bayern’s comparative lack of economic muscle -- at least relative to the heavyweights of Europe’s big three leagues -- meant it would be tougher for the club to compete at the highest level year after year. In fact, when Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer joked that the club would have to secede from the Bundesliga and join Serie A, far too many people took him at face value. It seemed that once the club was knocked out of Europe, Bayern slipped out of the collective consciousness, despite the fact that it romped to another Bundesliga title last April. Big mistake. The German champions are back and, what’s more, they have a massive chip on their shoulder. The pending addition of Deportivo La Coruna’s Roy Makaay, winner of Europe’s Golden Boot last year, is a clear statement of intent.
Makaay, who would be Bayern’s record signing at US$19 million, is a shrewd piece of business. Given the game’s cash crunch, he is a relative steal, and the club beat the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United to the punch. The aging back line has also been bolstered with the addition of River Plate’s Martin Demichelis, 22, and Wolfsburg’s Tobias Rau, 21. The pair may not immediately unseat incumbent starters Thomas Linke and Bixente Lizarazu, but both are long-term solutions. Furthermore, Bayern will be able to count on four guys who hardly featured in last season’s injury-riddled campaign. Wunderkind Sebastian Deisler made just three Bundesliga starts, center forward Roque Santa Cruz managed eight and midfielders Hasan Salihamidzic and Mehmet Scholl combined for 24. Scholl, Deisler and Salihamidzic are fit and looking sharp now, and Santa Cruz will return shortly. In practical terms, it’s almost as if Bayern had made four additional signings. The club’s ambition doesn’t end there. Boca Juniors starlet Carlos Tevez, the umpteenth alleged heir to Diego Maradona, could well join in the winter transfer period when the Argentine season ends. It’s all part of a coordinated process to make the squad younger -- stalwarts Lizarazu, Scholl, Linke and Giovane Elber are all the wrong side of 30 -- and more competitive at the same time. Unlike last season, coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has genuine alternatives at nearly every position. In fact, you could split the squad in two and both resulting teams might be good enough to win the Bundesliga. Still, much will once again revolve around Michael Ballack, probably the best player outside of Europe’s big three leagues. Makaay’s arrival should help relieve some of the pressure and help whip the attacking corps into shape. Elber and Claudio Pizzarro seemed to sleepwalk through some games last season, and the Dutchman should not only guarantee a fair dose of goals but also ensure that the other two compete for a spot in the starting 11. But Ballack is the key. There will be times, especially in Europe, when he will be called upon to carry the team, something he has done only intermittently in the past. No analysis of Bayern would be complete without mentioning Oliver Kahn. At 34 years of age, he has several top-notch seasons left in the old bones, and after last season’s disappointment he appears as motivated as ever. The ultracompetitive Kahn had the footballing equivalent of a mid-life crisis last year when off-the-pitch distractions (mainly uncharacteristic romps in nightclubs) drove some to question his commitment. But it didn’t take long for the No. 1 to find his focus once again. Make no mistake about it -- he wants a second Champions League title. It’s hard not to see Bayern running away with the title once again. Schalke 04 and VFB Stuttgart boast some young talent, but still have a long way to go. Hertha Berlin will be hoping its new (or, rather, old) strike force Arthur Wichniarek and Fredi Bobic can combine effectively with Marcelinho, which may well happen, though the back line is still rather shaky, and Wolfsburg will need much more than the precocious talents of Andres D’Alessandro to mount a serious challenge. Borussia Dortmund would have been the prime contender, but the season began in the worst possible way, with serious injuries to Torsten Frings and Evanilson, both of whom will be out for a long time. Then again, the Bundesliga is an afterthought for the new-look Bayern. The real objective is the European crown. Consider yourselves warned. Good week/Bad weekGOOD WEEK: For Tottenham Hotspur, which signed Freddy Kanoute from West Ham for US$6 million. The French forward joins new signings Helder Postiga and Bobby Zamora and holdover Robbie Keane to give Spurs something it hasn’t had in a long time: a truly first-class attacking corps. BAD WEEK: For Barcelona, when it was announced that the club lost US$186 million last season, bringing the club’s total debt to around US$250 million. If things don’t turn around this season, president Joan Laporta’s ambitious plans could well be derailed. GOOD WEEK: For Marcelo Gallardo, who left behind the mess at Monaco to return to Argentina, joining River Plate. The gifted midfielder will play alongside another European “refugee”: Marcelo Salas. BAD WEEK: For Roma, which finds itself in the midst of a fraud investigation relating to bank guarantees issued on behalf of the club. The Italian club needed those guarantees to meet Serie A’s licensing requirements, which mandate that clubs must be solvent at the beginning of the season. Roma is cooperating fully with the investigation and claims to have itself been defrauded by the bank that issued the guarantees.
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