Bayern Munich’s recent results are dreadful by their standards. They’re currently on a four-game winless streak and are without a vital asset to their team, Manuel Neuer, following his injury against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The 2-2 draw against Mainz in the weekend highlighted what many Bayern fans have been complaining about for some time now – a lack of squad rotation.
We’re in the closing stages of the season where maximum concentration is required amid the fatigue that comes after playing 30 league games and other cup fixtures.
While the players don’t look particularly jaded, they appear to be lacking the spark that saw them dominate the league after the hinrunde.
Carlo Ancelotti needs to introduce a new dynamic to the team in a bid to help them cross the finish line in the usual Bayern-esque style, as their current state oozes of normalcy – a word that is usually not associated with the Bavarian giants.
Having spent vast sums of money to bolster their ranks in the summer, Carlo Ancelotti evidently has a squad large enough to rotate the team’s starting lineup up until the end of the season.
The fact that he chooses to utilise the same players in nearly every game, understandably irks fans of the club given their recent performances have been a tad stale.
Deploying the same players week-in-week-out increases the risk of them picking up succumbing to an injury. David Alaba’s recent knee strain serves as a testament to that fact.
Alaba has been a regular in Ancelotti’s team sheet this having featured in 28 out of a possible 30 Bundesliga games this season.
The Austria international constitutes a large part of how the Bavarian giants launch attacks and prevent teams from finding the back of the net, but he could now miss out on Wednesday’s crunch match against Dortmund in the DFB Pokal semi-finals.
Despite having already beaten Dortmund in a relatively easy manner this season, Thomas Tuchel’s side are likely to pose a massive threat to Bayern seeing as the DFB Pokal is their last chance to win silverware this term.
Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are currently in good form; hence, Alaba’s possible absence could hurt Bayern’s resolve going into the game against their fierce rivals.
Going forward, Bayern’s midfield maestro Thiago Alcantara has shown signs of slowing down regarding his performances.
Thiago’s ability to create something out of nothing has led Bayern to numerous wins this term, but there’s currently a hint of tiredness about his general play.
Should he feature against Dortmund, there’s every chance that he won’t be at his very best thus limiting Bayern’s play in midfield.
Ancelotti’s decision to not rotate his squad over the past few months has given rise to a potential stumbling block ahead of the game against Dortmund.
