Since the 4-2 humiliation at VfL Bochum, there has been a lot of talk about FC Bayern's defense. Former Bayern Munich player Jerome Boateng recognizes the necessity for a defensive leader in the team.
Boateng won the German bundesliga nine times with FC Bayern, the Champions League twice, and the World Cup in 2014. The 33-year-old did not receive a contract extension after last season, and his central defender, David Alaba (Real Madrid), left. Alaba oversaw Munich's defense for the treble in 2020, and Boateng was recognized for his communication skills on the field.
Are Bayern now missing these guys, does it need a defense chief?
"In a central defense there doesn't necessarily have to be one boss if both players divide up their front men and know and understand each other well, as was the case with David and me, for example," says Boateng, who is now defending for Olympique Lyon. It is much more important to be well-rehearsed.
"In recent years, Bayern have mostly had players with many years of joint experience in this position. We knew each other very well. But of course that takes time."
Boateng explains the distribution of tasks in a central defense:
"First and foremost you are a team, maybe someone speaks more, but the man next to you fulfills other tasks. The best examples of this are Bonucci and Chiellini at the moment, they both simply harmonize and know each other inside out, which is then reflected on the pitch."