Matthäus: Bayern are Champions League favourites, not outsiders | OneFootball

Before the start of the new Champions League season, Sky expert Lothar Matthäus gave a clear assessment in his column – and clearly contradicts Uli Hoeneß. While the honorary president described the record champions as outsiders, Matthäus counts the Munich team among the title favorites.

Hoeneß had only recently stated that FC Bayern would enter Europe’s premier competition with similar chances as Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. This is a statement Matthäus does not want to let stand: “Hoffenheim’s chances of winning the Bundesliga are far lower than Bayern’s chances in the Champions League,” said the 1990 World Cup winner in his Sky column.

Bayern Among the Top Six Teams in Europe

For Matthäus, it’s clear: “Bayern belongs among the six best teams in Europe and among the group of teams that can win the title.” In addition to the Munich side, he counts Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester City among the hottest candidates. He also sees Arsenal, with slight reservations, in the extended circle of favorites.

One reason for his optimism lies in the squad quality. “I see only two or three teams that have a better squad in terms of depth,” Matthäus explains. While too much depth can also cause unrest, he sees the balance between individual class and team cohesion as given at Bayern.

New Transfers and Young Players in Focus

Photo: IMAGO

Matthäus is particularly impressed by the summer transfers. With Luis Diaz, the record champions have made “a good signing”, and the loan deal with Nicolas Jackson is another addition. He also sees the German internationals Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof as real reinforcements.

He also emphasizes the role of young talents. “Uli Hoeneß has been saying for years that young players need to be integrated. Now, finally, there’s a chance for these young players like Bischof or Lennart Karl to get playing time and show what they can do.”

Chelsea as Opening Opponent – With a Clear Statement

For the opener, the German record champions will face Club World Champion FC Chelsea on Wednesday evening at the Allianz Arena. For Matthäus, there’s no reason to worry: “I expect Bayern to win at home. They will have learned their lessons from last season’s Champions League, when they failed due to poor finishing.”

He sees the 5-0 win over Hamburger SV as a clear signal, even though the team deliberately slowed the tempo after half an hour. “They know the coming weeks will be physically very demanding,” says Matthäus.

For the record national player, one thing is clear: FC Bayern does not enter the Champions League as an outsider, but as one of the hot candidates for the trophy.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.