Too much unrest despite success: Bayern boss Dreesen calls for more discipline | OneFootball

In sporting terms, almost everything is going according to plan at FC Bayern, but behind the scenes, 2025 was anything but quiet. CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen speaks openly about internal friction, public sideshows – and what needs to change in the future

In purely sporting terms, there is little to complain about at FC Bayern at the moment. The Munich club is in commanding form in the Bundesliga, holds all the trump cards in the Champions League and is also on target in the DFB Cup. Vincent Kompany has given the team stability, clarity and structure – attributes that are reflected week after week on the pitch. But while the record champions are dancing at all three weddings in sporting terms, the year off the pitch has been characterised by conspicuous background noise

This is precisely where CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen’s criticism comes in. In an interview with Sky, the 58-year-old made it clear that he is less concerned with the sporting development and more with the handling of internal issues. Time and again, internal matters have leaked out and discussions have been held in public before a common line has been found internally. In Dreesen’s view, this is a point where FC Bayern needs to improve

Too many sideshows in the summer

photo: IMAGO

Last summer in particular is seen internally as an example of how things should not be done. The public scrutiny of the transfer activities developed into an ongoing issue at times. The failed attempts to sign Florian Wirtz or Nick Woltemade were exploited by the media and put additional pressure on the sporting management. Added to this was the open criticism of sporting director Max Eberl by honorary president Uli Hoeneß – an event that made headlines across Germany and further increased the unrest

Dreesen is self-critical in his assessment of this phase. Controversial discussions are nothing new at FC Bayern and are also nothing negative in principle. „The decisive factor is not whether you have different opinions,“ he emphasises. On the contrary: different points of view can be fruitful if they are characterised by respect, appreciation and mutual listening. It only becomes problematic when these disputes are brought to the outside world unfiltered

This is precisely where Dreesen sees the greatest need for improvement. For him, one thing is clear: after intensive internal debates, a decision must be reached that is then represented as a united front. „It is crucial that such controversies do not always reach the outside world straight away, but that once a decision has been made, it is also shared and then communicated to the outside world,“ explained the Bayern boss. This principle was not always consistently adhered to in the past year

„We will try to do better“

This is less about apportioning blame and more about a learning process. FC Bayern is a club with strong personalities, clear opinions and high standards. Friction is part of the DNA – but it must be channelled. Dreesen makes no secret of the fact that he would like to see more calm and internal unity in the future. Whether this will succeed remains to be seen. „We will try to do better. Let’s see if we succeed,“ he said with a touch of realism

This self-criticism is particularly remarkable in view of the current sporting situation. FC Bayern is in a more stable position than it has been for years, the mood around the team is positive and the prospects are promising. This makes it all the more important for those responsible to learn the lessons from the past few months, because it is also clear that the more successful FC Bayern is, the greater the public interest – and the more sensitive any internal unrest will be perceived.