'Ghost' Bayern Munich and the long shadow of the empire

Whenever a team dares to rise, the "Gray Tigers" will not hesitate to use "financial weapons" to restore order. And Bayer Leverkusen is at risk of becoming the latest victim.

The power struggle is over before it begins.

"It seems that the competition is over, because Bayer Leverkusen will not only lose coach Xabi Alonso, but the team will most likely also be weakened, especially with the persistent rumors about Florian Wirtz and the possibility of joining Bayern Munich," NTV journalist Stephen Uersfeld shared with Tri Thuc - Znews .

While nothing is certain about Wirtz's future, the rumors are enough to create uncertainty. This is a familiar Bayern Munich tactic - sow doubt, shake up the stability of the opponent, before delivering the decisive blow.

Bayern Munich remained faithful to the strategy they had adopted before: when attacked, they would counterattack even more strongly by targeting the opponent's most important figures. A ruthless but terrifyingly effective strategy.

Looking back in history, Bayern Munich has repeatedly "swallowed" its competitors. Borussia Dortmund in the 1990s is a typical example. Although Dortmund spent money to recruit stars such as Andreas Möller, Jörg Heinrich, Karl-Heinz Riedle and even won the championship right at Bayern's stadium, they still had to kneel before "FC Hollywood".

Werder Bremen have also challenged Bayern and paid the price. Even back in the 1980s, Nürnberg experienced the feeling of being "gutted" by Bayern to the point of exhaustion. That was no coincidence, but a deliberate strategy.

"Bayern know the weaknesses of each club, they will make an offer that no one can refuse," Uersfeld emphasized. This is not simply a transfer strategy, but an art of controlling power.

Xabi Alonso will leave Bayer Leverkusen after the 2024/25 season ends.

Not only facing the risk of losing Wirtz, Leverkusen will certainly have to say goodbye to the genius architect Xabi Alonso. This is an immeasurable loss, because Alonso's reputation is the magnet that attracts talent to Leverkusen.

"It was Xabi Alonso who attracted a lot of players to Leverkusen. Not Simon Rolfes, but the big name, Alonso," Uersfeld affirmed.

Sporting director Simon Rolfes now faces a seemingly impossible challenge: finding a new coach who can inspire similarly, while also convincing the stars to stay. It is a gamble with a slim chance of success.

Financial weapons - the harsh reality of German football

Bayern Munich is not only strong in reputation but also in financial strength. With a salary fund nearly twice as high as that of its opponents in the tournament, the "Gray Tigers" always have an overwhelming advantage in every deal.

"Compared to Borussia Dortmund, this team is still 100 million euros behind in terms of salary payments," journalist Uersfeld pointed out. For Leverkusen, that gap is much larger. How can they compete when their biggest trump card - money - is always in the hands of their opponents?

That is why Bayern Munich is always at the top. Not only can they maintain a quality squad, but they also have the ability to attract the brightest talents. This is a power vortex that other teams find difficult to break.

Leverkusen soon lost the throne to Bayern Munich in the 2024/25 season.

Leverkusen in 2023/24 were a rare phenomenon - a team that was virtually unbeaten all season, losing only once to Atalanta Bergamo in the Europa League final. But defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League in the round of 16 of 2024/25 seems to have been the starting point of their downfall.

“I think it was their biggest defeat of the season, and they never recovered from it,” Uersfeld said. It was a deep psychological wound, a reminder that no matter how talented Bayern are, they are still the unshakeable force.

Clearly, a team like Leverkusen last season will not be able to replicate it. It was a "once in a lifetime" team, a temporary miracle in a German football hierarchy that has been dominated by Bayern Munich for too long.

In the 2024/25 season, Leverkusen lost the title to Bayern Munich. They also said goodbye to coach Xabi Alonso. So what future awaits the club at BayArena? According to Uersfeld, Leverkusen will continue to be a strong Bundesliga club, occasionally reaching the Champions League, but it will be difficult to maintain the top form of the 2023/24 season.

"It will be a long time before we see them competing for a Bundesliga title again," the German journalist predicted. They still have a chance to cause a surprise in the Champions League, but consistent and sustainable success is hard to expect.

Leverkusen's story is not only their own story, but also a testament to the "Bayern curse" - a cruel rule that has existed in German football for decades.

“Getting to the top is not easy, and staying there is even harder,” Uersfeld concluded. Especially when faced with an empire that is not only financially rich but also rich in power and influence.

For German football fans, this situation creates a painful paradox: they crave competition, but at the same time have to accept the fact that Bayern Munich, with its ruthless but effective strategies, will always find a way to regain its inherent position.

The question is not if Bayern will be crowned champions again, but when. And on the current signs, the answer seems to be: very soon.

Source: https://znews.vn/bong-ma-bayern-munich-va-chiec-bong-dai-cua-de-che-post1552380.html