Bayern Munich in freefall with era of domestic dominance nearing end

Bayern Munich are suffering a slump they’ve not seen in recent memory. They lost 3-2 to Bochum on Sunday to go into a three game losing streak across competitions. One of those defeats came against Bayer Leverkusen, who lead the Bundesliga standings.

The defeat at Bochum handed Leverkusen an eight-point advantage, with 12 rounds remaining, and Bayern’s aim of securing a record-extending 12th Bundesliga title looks bleak.

The likes of Borussia Dortmund, Wolfsburg and Leipzig have run them close in the last 11 years. Dortmund had the title in their grasp last season but fell short on goal difference on a dramatic last day. Ever since Dortmund in 2011-12, Bayern Munich have won the league each season. That streak looks like it’ll come to an end this time around.

“It feels like a horror film that just doesn’t end,” Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka said after Bochum came from behind to win.

The last time Bayern had lost three games in a row was May 2015, when the team were coached by Pep Guardiola but had already clinched the Bundesliga title and were more focused on European glory.

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The situation is vastly different now with Bayern struggling in domestic competition and Europe. One of those three defeats in eight days was against Lazio, going down 1-0 to a Ciro Immobile strike, in the first leg of last-16 in the UEFA Champions League.

Even if Bayern do advance, Thomas Tuchel’s team do not look capable of upsetting tournament favourites Manchester City or Real Madrid.

Their aura of domestic superiority and invincibility has been brought to a crashing halt - something Leverkusen demonstrated with ease. Before that they were knocked out of the German Cup by third-division Saarbrücken in the second round.

The frustration has boiled over to the dressing room. According to Sky Germany, after the Lazio defeat, Tuchel told his team: “You’re not as good as I thought, then I just have to adapt to your level.”

Midfielder Joshua Kimmich clashed with assistant coach Zsolt Löw, suggesting tensions between players and the coaching staff.

Tuchel and Bayern Munich have agreed to part ways - acknowledging that things have not been working out. “We have agreed that we will end our working relationship at the end of this season,” Tuchel said. “Until then, I will of course continue to do everything I can with my coaching staff to achieve maximum success.”

CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said: “In a good, open discussion, we came to the decision to end our working relationship by mutual agreement in the summer. Our goal is to pursue a new footballing direction with a new head coach for the 2024-25 season. Until then, every individual at the club is expressly called upon to achieve the maximum possible in the Champions League and Bundesliga.

“I also explicitly hold the team accountable in this regard. In the Champions League in particular, after losing 1- 0 in the first leg at Lazio, we are convinced we will reach the quarter-finals at a packed Allianz Arena with our fans behind us.”

The Bavarians have struggled despite big-money signing Harry Kane scoring 25 goals in 22 games, topping the scoring charts with ease. But there’s not been a complete team effort. Club’s other highly paid stars - Kimmich, Goretzka, Sané, Serge Gnabry and Matthijs de Ligt - have failed to meet expectations.

Ever since Guardiola left, Bayern have struggled to keep a manager for lengthy period. Carlo Ancelotti, Willy Sagnol, Jupp Heynckes, Niko Kovac, Hansi Flick and Julian Nagelsmann have all come and gone but none have particularly struggled as Tuchel’s Bayern have.

There have been changes at the board room level as well in the recent past. Former club goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn had said Bayern weren’t showing their true potential under Nagelsmann. He, and sporting director Hasan Salihamidžić, were gone hours after last season’s Bundesliga success.

Before it, club president Uli Hoeness had stepped down in 2019 and CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge followed in 2021. Both Hoeness and Rummenigge are on Bayern’s supervisory board. Kahn replaced Rummenigge as CEO. Dreesen, who replaced Kahn, will have to figure out how to get Bayern back on track.

With Tuchel gone in the summer, the club will go into a rebuilding mode with Xabi Alonso, currently at Leverkusen, one of the prime contenders to take over.

(with inputs from AP)