Bayern Munich Must Normalize the Lineup
In order to win the 2016 Champions League, Pep Guardiola and Bayern Munich would be wise to decide on a consistent lineup, rather than continuing to trot out an ever-changing formation and group of players.
Unlike the midfield and the defense, the attack is perhaps easier to iron out quickly. If Bayern use a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 formation, then several players stand out as starters: Robert Lewandowki, Thomas Müller, Douglas Costa, and Kingsley Coman.
A strong argument can be made for Mario Götze over Coman, even though Pep Guardiola doesn’t seem to rate him. It’s important to note that both Götze and Coman are prodigies, but Coman has more soul-crushing skill and speed. But, whether Guardiola likes it or not, Götze is a talented attacking player than delivers in big games, and Guardiola must consider him for a starting spot in the Champions League semifinals.
Despite how devastating Coman has been, starting Götze with Müller, Costa, and Lewandowski makes sense. This also gives Bayern an amazing super sub in Coman whom Juventus unwisely let Bayern have on loan. Guardiola can’t go wrong with either Coman or Götze, so perhaps only Lewandowski, Müller, and Costa should be considered locks as starters.
Arturo Vidal is another key player whose role Bayern needs to iron out. Vidal knows how to play as a purely defensive midfielder, but his real value is his completeness as a midfielder with his ability to surge forward. Vidal is perhaps the key to the Chilean national team’s one touch passing in tight spaces, so banishing Vidal to the back of Bayern’s midfield isn’t the best use of his skill-set. Surely using Xabi Alonso, Joshua Kimmich, or Javi Martinez for this role makes more sense. There is also the possibility of going with Thiago Alcântara and Vidal in the holding midfield roles. Both players are willing and able to cover for each other.
These types of interchangeable lineup choices aren’t the type of lineup adjustments that Guardiola has been criticized for. It’s rather the constant changing of defensive setups and defenders that is the real problem. Going from three center backs to two and always changing the center backs is Bayern’s main tactical problem. Of course, Guardiola has dealt with a lack of healthy defenders, and this has forced him to get creative with his center back selections. Once Jérôme Boateng is healthy, then Guardiola will only have to slot either Kimmich or David Alaba alongside Boateng. Everything changes if Mehdi Benatia is healthy as well. That gives Bayern two center backs by trade.
Using Kimmich and Vidal as the two holding midfielders behind a three-man attacking midfield line of Coman/Götze, Müller, and Douglas Costa with Lewandowski as the center forward is Bayern’s best chance at a tactically sound lineup that can win the Champions League. That leaves a Back Four of Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, and Juan Bernat with Manuel Neuer in goal.
Therefore, here is one opinion of Bayern’s Best XI to try to win the 2016 Champions League: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Alaba, Bernat; Kimmich, Vidal; Coman, Müller, Douglas Costa; Lewandowski.