Champions of Europe (2020 Version)

In this photo, you can see Skipper Manuel Neuer holding the prestigious Champions League trophy in his hands as he celebrates the auspecious moment with his teammates. FC Bayern Munich has created history by winning their 6th Champions League Trophy. The whole team and staff and fans rejoice this, but this came not handy. Let us look back onto how a mid table team until the first half of the season turned altogher to go and win numerous trophies including the TREBLE.

The Impact of Flick

On 1 July 2019, Hans-Deiter Flick joined Bayern Munich as an assistant coach, under the management of Niko Kovač. Bayern were not doing very well in the Bundesliga, constantly being threatened by Dortmund and Leipzig as they were trying to dominate their positions in the table. Bayern dropped down to the 4th in the table, and rumours regarding sacking the manager was airing the channels. When Kovač left Bayern by mutual consent on 3 November 2019, Flick was promoted to the interim manager position. In his first match in charge, Bayern defeated Olympiacos 2–0 in the UEFA Champions League group stage on 6 November 2019. After a satisfying spell as interim coach, Bayern announced on 22 December 2019 that Flick will remain manager until the end of season. InApril 2020, Bayern Munich gave Flick a new contract lasting until 2023.

Flick is a very smoothly operating manager who generally maintains his tactics with the availability of players. His most-used formation is a wide 4-2-3-1 or a composed 4-3-3 with an attacking mid, each usually comprising of two ball-playing CBs, two overlapping full-backs, one defensive and one box-to-box midfielder, two speedy wingers, one conventional striker and one false nine. He believes in playing precise fast possessional football mixed with high pressing but this style often changes with situations.

(As on 22.12.20)

Of the 58 matches on which he has managed Bayern Munich, he has won 50 games while drawing 5 while losing just 3. This is some impeccable record. Under his supervision, Bayern has scored a massive 181 goals while conceded just 53 implying a huge 128 goals difference. An overwhelming 86.21 win percentage tells you why he was chosen as the UEFA Men's Coach of the Year for the 2019/20 season.

His winnings are represented hereby :

Bayern Munich

Individual

German Football Manager of the Year: 2020
UEFA Men's Coach of the Year: 2019–20
World Soccer's Men's World Manager of the Year: 2020
IFFHS World's Best Club Coach: 2020

Hansi Flick was also among the top three candidates nominated for the FIFA's Best Manager of the Year which was ultimately won by his friend and Liverpool Manager, Jürgen Klopp.

Availability of Players

Bayern Munich has always had the best players in Europe and has always posed as a serious contender towards the most prestigious trophy that would grant them the title of the "CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE". What they lacked was a perfect coach which was met in the 2019/20 season. This year the team comprised of the best experienced players that could lead any organisation of sporadics, the most catchy name was that of the skipper Manuel Neuer. Neuer had already established himself as one of the greatest Goalkeepers of the century and was more determined than ever to grab the title this year. He along with fellow countryman Thomas Muller and Jerome Boateng and the likes of Lewandowski and Thiago Alcantara formed the base of the team.

The use of the some of Bayern's promisable talents such as Alaba and Kimmich was perfectly put into position. Gnabry, Coman and Goretzka made sure the integrity of the team is found as and when required. Sule in the defense stood like a rock while Pavard came in and did the exact job he was supposed to. The most important addition was that of Davies. The Canadian has an absolutely brilliant speed and awesome dribbling abilities posing as the perfect left wing back who filled in for Hernandez while also helping Alaba monitor.the backline. The additions of Coutinho and Perisic made sure the legends of Robben and Ribery will not be missed as much upon the pitch as long as they play their game and linked up with the midfield while providing the support for Gnabry, Coman, Muller and ultimately Lewandowski. It was the team they dreamt of building. Bayern was now ready to take on Europe !!

The Run !!

Bayern have always been the best team and the most popular contender towards the Bundesliga, i.e., the German League. They had now started to show perfections in their performances as they slowly passed ahead of their arch rivals, Dortmund and the young strengths of Leipzig. Slowly the lead turned massive. Bayern had already shown how determined they were to be crowned the Champions of Europe which would be possible had they won the UCL. In the very first match of the UCL they had Tottenham Hotspur thrashed 7-2, which was enough to announce their motive.

They qualified for the Final Sixteen round where they were placed against Chelsea against whom they netted three goals taking a strong lead before the second leg. This was the time when Football as in terms of UEFA and thus the UCL was momentarily suspended due to the Covid outbreak. However, that didn't stop them from grabbing the prestigious German League Title; the Bundesliga.

With Dortmund eliminated even before the quarter finals, Bayern had a comparatively easy run in the German League Cup, i.e., the DFB Pokal. They defeated Leverkusen in the finals 4-2 to win the prestigious Cup. Two of the three trophies that make the Treble was now already in Bayern's possession. What remained was the Champions League.

The toughest and most important Trophy to be won was the UCL. Clubs often win their league championship and the League cup but fail in this competition. Bayern had to face Chelsea in the second leg, the one they already led by three from the first leg,and they wrapped the match 4-1. They had qualified for the Quarter Finals. Here is where awaited Bayern's one of the most challenging opponents, FC Barcelona. The team that eliminated Bayern in their previous encounter back in 2015, 5-3, was yet again in their path. The future matches in the UCL for the season had cut down to one leg, due to time lost due to lockdown. Therefore, mistakes were not allowed.

The match started and both teams played their fast pace football. The deadlock was soon broken by a goal from Thomas Muller, the Raumdeuter, in the 4th minute. Another attack from Barca saw David Alaba send the clearence into his own net causing equal scores. Bayern did not panic. They kept their formations intact and kept attacking pushing Barca to their limits which ended the first half in a 4-1 lead for Bayern. Barca came in fiercely with an early goal as second half started. They were determined to comeback like they had in 2017 against PSG. But then a fantastic run from youngster Davies completely destroyed Barca's defence and another goal came in from a tap-in by Kimmich. Again then, Lewandowski scored a header from Coutinho's assist in increasing the lead. Barca seemed totally broken by then. Coutinho, the loanie from Barca, scored two easy goals to completely destroy his former team. Bayern walked out 8-2 and with a spot in the semi finals.

The semis was easy against a 7th positioned club in the French League. Bayern crushed Lyon 3-0. The finals was interesting, the French Giants of PSG would face the German Giants of Bayern Munich.

In the finals, both teams were not easily giving up. They both pressed, attacked and defended, as one could see the ball move from one side to the another. The initial half ended 0-0. As the second half commenced, Bayern started being more discrete with their midfield. They allowed their wing backs to put balls through and comply with the attack. In not much time, they were leading 1-0, thanks to Coman, former PSG player. The game went on and not much separated the two teams except that one goal. 90 minutes was over. Bayern had done it. They were now Champions of Europe !!!!!!!