Hansi Flick’s tenure at Bayern Munich was one of the best managerial seasons in the history of football, it was nothing but extraordinary. Flick became an interim manager in November 2019, and Bayern won the sex-tuple, including the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and UEFA Champions League in the 2019-20 season. His work was purely due to key decisions that completely transformed Bayern’s style.
1. Player Development
Team Environment and Relations
Flick brought back squad harmony which was missing under Niko Kovač. Flick maintained a close relationship with all his players on and off the field, the team was a cohesive unit.
Restoring Thomas Müller’s Role
Before Flick, Bayern’s manager Niko Kovač lost his trust in Müller, he was sidelined and barely used. Many people believed Müller is finished and will look for a transfer away from the German club. When Flick was appointed as the manager, he transformed Müller in a different player. Flick gave him the role of a play-maker in a high-pressing system. As a result Müller led the Bundesliga charts on assists (21 in the 2019-20 season) and became the backbone of Bayern’s attack.
Alphonso Davies as a Left-Back
Alphonso Davies was initially a winger, but he was transformed into a full-back role who makes explosive wide runs to support the wingers in attack. His pace allowed Bayern to maintain a high-defensive line, as he could use his pace in attack and defence. His breakout performance against Barcelona in the Champions League showed his impact at the club.
Robert Lewandowski became a Goal Machine.
Under Flick Lewandowski became a different breed, he was always scoring goals before Flick’s appointment but during Flick’s era, no one was close to him. He was robbed of the Balon D’ Or in the sex-tuple-winning season because the event was called off due to COVID-19. Lewandowski had his best-ever season (55 goals in 47 games, 2019-20). The team structure around Lewandowski was such that the winger’s Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman supplied him with chances.
2. Tactical Change
High Defensive Line
Flick implemented the high defensive line approach, pushing the team further. The defensive line is aligned at the halfway line to compress the ball-playing area and force mistakes from the opposition. This line is also important to play an offside trap which disrupts the opposition’s attacking chance. This also allowed Neuer to freely play his favourite role as a sweeper-keeper, making him more dangerous at the back.
Aggressive Pressing
Flick also used the high-pressing system in which the team focuses on winning the ball back within seconds of losing it. The aim is that the team initiates the press in a coordinated manner. The players apply pressure in groups to cut off passing lanes and win the ball. The forwards and midfielders play a crucial role in this, while the defensive line compresses the space so no passes can go through. This tactic disrupts the opponent’s build-up before they can start an attack.
Rather than constant press which requires stamina and discipline, Flick preferred specific triggers that make the team press aggressively and with full intensity.
Formation Changes
Bayern’s UEFA Champions League campaign under Flick highlighted his tactical adaptability. He shifted the team’s formation according to the scenario of the game. An example of this is the UEFA Champions League final against PSG, usually Bayern played in a 4-2-3-1 shape with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in a midfield pivot, he used Kimmich at right-back in the final neutralising runs from Neymar and Mbappe.
3. Winning Mentality
The Record
Flick transformed Bayern into a completely dominant force, from a tactical masterclass to installing a ruthless mindset. Under Hansi Flick, Bayern lost 7 games and won 7 trophies. The 2019-20 Champions League campaign was a testament to their dominance where they lost 0 games.
Conclusion
Flick’s decisions transformed Bayern into a dominant force, winning the historic sex-tuple. His ability to blend tactical adaptability and player development is quite commendable. His legacy at Bayern is unmatched and an important tenure in the club’s history.