In London, Bayern leave the field as runners-up for the first time. Which could also have its advantages.
It seemed almost unusual how sober and serious the Bavarian protagonists looked on Wednesday evening in London. In the months since the 2-0 defeat to Paris in the Club World Cup, we have become so accustomed to seeing satisfied Munich players that it was interesting to observe their reaction to defeat.
In the catacombs of the Emirates Stadium, for example, Jonathan Tah stood at the DAZN microphone and talked about the details that decided the top match between Bayern and Arsenal. Or Serge Gnabry, who asked for acceptance “when you lose.” A deserved defeat, by the way, as Joshua Kimmich immediately classified it.
Kimmich: “This is an extremely important game for us.”
And Vincent Kompany? He would love to play Arsenal again right away. Because this meticulous coach had prepared so intensively for the Premier League leaders that, in his self-image as an always-winner, there must be an opportunity to rectify this faux pas. And maybe there will be an opportunity, but not until the new year at the earliest.
This absurdly good record of 16 wins from 16 games, which was still intact a few weeks ago, still looks absolutely fine after the 1-3 defeat in London: 17 wins from 19 games, with one defeat and one draw (2-2 in Berlin). Bayern remain top of the Bundesliga with a comfortable lead, and in the Champions League, unlike a year ago, they don’t have to worry about a place in the top eight.
They have earned themselves the luxury of being able to switch back into learning mode after a defeat. “This is an extremely important game for us,” said Kimmich, for example. “I’m convinced that we will take a lot away from it and learn a lot. There were many aspects that we need to improve.”
Against PSG, Munich’s man-to-man approach worked perfectly for one half, but in London, the German league leaders were shown their limits by the best English team: because Arsenal did not engage with Kompany’s pressing football and were physically (Declan Rice!) superior almost throughout;
and because the Gunners impressively managed to control moments of the game and stifle Bayern.
Bayern experience something they cannot experience against Leipzig or Dortmund
Looking at soccer games from different angles after the fact is not only healthy, but also normal. With a win in London, Munich would have continued to claim the unofficial and utterly unimportant title of currently best team in Europe. But instead, they learned something they cannot learn from Leverkusen, Leipzig, or Dortmund: there are indeed still things to improve.
“Learn,” demands sporting director Max Eberl. “Learn from the game, learn because we will face such games in the knockout stages. With such opponents, with such caliber.”
The only problem with that is that opponents of that caliber will probably not come along again until the spring, when the knockout stages of the Champions League begin. And then Kompany will be able to prepare meticulously again—and, if necessary, try again against Arsenal.