Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga Crown Doesn’t Impress Club Legend Lothar Matthäus as He Points to Glaring Gaps and Demands Reinforcements in Attack
Bayern Munich might have wrestled the Bundesliga crown back from Bayer Leverkusen, but club legend Lothar Matthäus isn’t exactly throwing a party over it. The former Germany captain believes the title win masks deeper issues — both on the pitch and behind the scenes — and he hasn’t held back in voicing his concerns.
Writing in his column for Sky Sport Germany, Matthäus labelled the Bavarians’ season “satisfactory” — hardly high praise for a club with Bayern’s sky-high expectations. While acknowledging the achievement of finishing atop the Bundesliga once again, the 63-year-old was quick to aim fire at the club’s hierarchy, particularly sporting director Max Eberl, and suggested that Harry Kane is crying out for help up front.
‘It Was Only Satisfactory’ – Matthäus Breaks Down Bayern’s Flaws
“Overall, the season was only satisfactory in my opinion, because their performance in the cup competitions was too low,” Matthäus opened, setting the tone for a frank and unsparing assessment.
While Bayern reclaimed the domestic throne, they fell short in Europe and the DFB–Pokal — two fronts where success is seen as non-negotiable in Munich. And for Matthäus, the club’s underachievement in those competitions exposed an uncomfortable truth: the squad might be strong on paper, but it’s clearly lacking in cohesion, depth, and clarity.
His harshest critique was reserved for Max Eberl, the newly appointed sporting director, who Matthäus believes has struggled to make an impact — both in transfer decisions and in managing the club’s image.
“Max Eberl fares worse than the coach,” he wrote bluntly. “Michael Olise was a very good signing, but not all of his transfers have worked out. Eberl’s assessment is not only about his sporting performance, but also about how he represents the club externally as sporting director.”
Matthäus took issue with Eberl’s handling of star names too, citing comments made about Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller that stirred up unrest.
“His statements about Leroy Sane on Saturday and Thomas Muller in January caused considerable confusion externally and unrest within the club,” he noted.
‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ Needed Up Front
At the heart of Matthäus’ concerns is Bayern’s attacking structure — or lack thereof. Despite Harry Kane’s staggering individual numbers in his debut season, the former midfielder argues the England captain can’t do it all on his own.
“Bayern has the strongest squad in the Bundesliga,” Matthäus acknowledged. “But they are missing a second penalty box player behind Harry Kane in attack.”
He praised Olise’s impact since arriving from Crystal Palace, but pointed to the long-term fitness issues of Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman as problematic for the team’s forward options.
“Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman have also been with the club for a long time, and both are injury-prone,” he said. “The attack would benefit from a breath of fresh air. A breath of fresh air like the one Olise has brought, who, at 21, is already performing well and still has potential for improvement.”
Defensive Wobbles and Key Departures Loom
While much of the spotlight is on the front line, Matthäus didn’t shy away from addressing Bayern’s backline frailties either. The defence has looked far from convincing this term, and with Eric Dier’s departure to Monaco already confirmed and questions over Kim Min-jae’s future, changes seem inevitable.
Reports suggest Bournemouth’s rising star Dean Huijsen and Bayer Leverkusen’s rock Jonathan Tah are both on Bayern’s radar, with new head coach Vincent Kompany reportedly keen on securing fresh legs at the back.
With Thomas Müller announcing his intention to leave after becoming the club’s all-time appearance maker, the squad is facing a possible identity shift. Gnabry’s future is uncertain. Leroy Sané has been given an ultimatum to sign a new deal or be sold — with Arsenal reportedly circling. Coman, too, has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
Amid the speculation, Matthäus believes it’s vital that Bayern rebalances their squad not only for depth but to support their marquee man in Kane. The England skipper has been prolific, but Matthäus fears burnout or overreliance if nothing changes.
Eyeing the Future – Could Wirtz Be the Answer?
One name doing the rounds in Bavaria is Leverkusen sensation Florian Wirtz. Still just 21, the attacking midfielder has been at the heart of Leverkusen’s resurgence, and Bayern are reportedly exploring the possibility of prising him away from Xabi Alonso’s side this summer.
The move wouldn’t come cheap, but Matthäus and many others view Wirtz as the kind of difference-maker who could elevate Bayern’s attack and reduce the burden on Kane.
With potential departures likely to generate significant funds, a blockbuster bid isn’t out of the question. But landing Wirtz would require conviction — something Matthäus hasn’t seen enough of in recent months from the Bayern boardroom.
What’s Next for Bayern Munich?
With the league title now secured, Bayern’s remaining fixtures are more about maintaining momentum and clarity ahead of what’s expected to be a transformative summer.
They host Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday, May 10, followed by a trip to Hoffenheim for the final Bundesliga match of the season on May 17.
After that, eyes will turn to the revamped FIFA Club World Cup in June, where Bayern have been drawn in a challenging group alongside Boca Juniors, Benfica, and Auckland City.
But for Matthäus, what happens this summer is even more important. The former midfield general has sounded the alarm — now it’s up to Bayern’s leadership to answer it.
