Before the southern clash with VfB: Badstuber on Bayern's true strength | OneFootball

When Holger Badstuber talks about the centre-back position, his voice takes on a different tone. Calmer, more focused, as if he were mentally re-entering the spaces he played in at FC Bayern and VfB Stuttgart over the years. Badstuber knows both clubs like few others: He arrived from the VfB youth setup, shot to fame at FCB, won the Champions League in 2013, among other honours, and once again left his mark on Stuttgart from 2017 to 2021.

He enjoyed a multifaceted career, his expertise is undisputed - and today, as part of the FC Bayern Legends, he continues to follow both clubs with great interest.

The 36-year-old played alongside some of the players who will face each other in the Bundesliga clash on Saturday (15.30 CET) . The former Germany defender with his assessment of the situation for fcbayern.com.

VfB, says Badstuber, have undergone an impressive development. Playing in Europe has raised the club to a new level, participating in three competitions for the first time for many players has been a learning process that has made the team more robust. The processes are more solid, squad rotation is working, and the strong support in their own stadium ensures Stuttgart are difficult to beat at home. But despite all the praise, Badstuber is quick to emphasise that Bayern are once again a special benchmark this season. "Bayern are just Bayern," he says with a grin - and the way he says it sounds less like a cliché than genuine recognition.

Badstuber does indeed see significant progress at the record champions this season. He's particularly impressed by the balance: a "brutally efficient" attack that's operating at full speed and a team who are much more solid defensively. They look "very fit", he says, and better structured.

Bayern's balance and Kompany's influence

For him, a key factor is coach Vincent Kompany, who has not only developed his team further, but has also set them up with a sharper focus. The former world-class defender is very much in tune with the mechanisms of a modern defence and has clearly analysed exactly what didn't work last year. Too many goals conceded, especially in the Champions League - this season, on the other hand, a mature defence that controls spaces differently and allows critical situations to occur less frequently.

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Mature central defence

Badstuber recognises a clear improvement in central defence in particular. “There's a real bond,” he says, and you can hear that this is a crucial factor for someone who has played the position at the highest level. The back line works more closely together, the players cover each other better, allowing individuals to take risks because the defence works. Added to this is Manuel Neuer, who is the final anchor point that strengthens everything: a goalkeeper who anticipates, corrects mistakes, makes saves and in doing so stabilises the entire structure. Overall, the record champions are more attuned to each other, more communicative, more confident in themselves.

Badstuber also positively emphasises the way Bayern deal with the pressure. Kompany rotates his players wisely, gives players with less playing time the feeling of being important and thus creates a togetherness that's crucial in a long season. Everyone has their place, everyone feels like they add value to the team and that's exactly what carries them through weeks with lots of games - such as the cup game in Berlin on Wednesday evening and the southern clash in Stuttgart this Saturday.

Duel with Stuttgart as a yardstick

Looking ahead to the clash with VfB, Badstuber sees two teams who are in great form. Stuttgart are difficult to break down at home, they're carried by the crowd and have grown from their experiences in recent years. They're also through to the quarter-finals of the cup after their 2-0 win at Bochum.

Despite all the progress made at Bayern, Badstuber also urges caution. The big decisions of the season, he says, will only be made in the spring. The crucial months are March, April and May. A lot can happen between now and then, but Bayern have created the pre-requisites this year to be ready for this phase.

For him, one thing is certain: the development is positive, the defence has matured, the feeling in the team is good. For Badstuber, one thing is clear: Stuttgart will challenge Bayern - but it's games like this that show how far FC Bayern have really come in their development.

The facts on the southern clash:

Can Bayern win in Stuttgart for third time this year?