By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sarcasm comes naturally when a giant of football is slipping into crisis. Currently, Bayern Munich fans and pundits only seem to have scorn and ridicule for the reigning German champions.
Commentators say alarm bells are being ignored by the club as Bayern is said to have lost faith and is lacking a convincing strategy. But still, the unpleasant situation appears to have caught Bayern's football family like an unexpected storm.
After seven straight victories, national rivals were full of admiration as the 2018/2019 Bundesliga campaign seemed like a walk in the park for Bayern. Schalke 04 sporting director Christian Heidel, for example, assumed Bayern is not going to lose a game this season.
Only a few days later and Germany's leading club seems to be struggling. The team lost twice and is performing poorly. The club's big dream - to win the 2018/2019 Champions League - seems out of reach.
President Uli Hoeness tried to ease the tension by announcing he intends to back coach Niko Kovac in every possible way. Pundits like the former German international Lothar Matthaeus said it's not Kovic's fault that the club has "missed the opportunity" to rejuvenate the squad.
Former Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said the club has made significant mistakes when selecting their squad. "Bayern missed the right time for a change," the 67-year-old Dutchman said.
Matthaeus said Kovac is the one who has to live with the club's mistakes. The former Bayern midfielder demanded Kovac stop his rotation strategy, but at the same time accused vital performers like Robert Lewandowski and James Rodriguez of a selfish attitude.
"They have their own interest in mind but not the team's benefit," Matthaeus said. The Munich based "Sueddeutsche" complained that the side entirely depends on 34-year-old Arjen Robben and 35-year-old Franck Ribery. On top of this, the club created a left-back problem by allowing Juan Bernat to leave for Paris St Germain.
Recently it was on midfielder Leon Goretzka who had to fill the gap while David Alaba is sidelined due to an injury. Former cornerstones like Mats Hummels (29) and Jerome Boateng (30) lack the best shape and seem to be past their best.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is currently far from his highest level. The Berlin-based tabloid Bild also spoke about individual players continuously trying to influence the opinions of the club's leaders.
Seven crucial games in only 22 days lie ahead after key players return from Nations League games against the Netherlands and France by the end of next week.
According to reports, several crisis meetings took place when Kovac met chairmen Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Hoeness, and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. The former Croatian national coach still has the club's full support, but fans are anxiously waiting for him to present convincing answers shortly.
