FC Bayern: Philipp Lahm solves problems Guardiola – T-Online

By Mark Weidenfeller

A good news and bad news Philipp Lahm was at the press conference of FC Bayern before the big match against Borussia Dortmund (Saturday from 18.30 clock in t -online.de live ticker) to proclaim. First the bad: “Franck Ribery also falls out,” he said, pushing the good immediately afterwards: “I am fully operational.” On coach Pep Guardiola thus comes in addition to the problem of prominent failures of Ribery, Arjen Robben and David Alaba still a luxury problem. For while the selection of players for the outer tracks is slowly manageable, are in the central midfield suddenly an oversupply.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Xabi Alonso and just Lahm apply three designated starting players for a coveted spot in the center. Therefore Guardiola must now not only the much discussed in recent weeks about “Schweinsteiger or Alonso – or both” to put. He now has to think much more about the personal puzzle “Schweinsteiger, Alonso, Lahm”. Lahm itself holds the variant with three potential leaders in the middle conceivable. “It’s possible,” he said. “But of course we are not one-on-one player.”

“We will have to change our game”

The system with a kind of three-man midfield has Guardiola although every once installed in the last few weeks and tested. However, it was then Mario Götze or Alaba always have at least one game strong and tangy player. On the side lines also waited with Ribery and Robben, the most dangerous winger in the league. This is after the injury crisis as no longer possible. “Now there are other types of players on the court,” confirmed Lahm. “We will have to change our game.”

This Stars were active for BVB and FCB

Of necessity. For both Schweinsteiger and Alonso’s way of playing is heavily dependent on the wingers Ribery and Robben. The Spanish world champion of 2010 and the German world champion 2014 can fall between the two central defenders like to open up to the amount of the penalty the game. From there they spread apart from the typical for Guardiola short passes like a long diagonal balls on the outer tracks a. Ribery and Robben are strong enough to handle these passes – or to immediately win the second ball and then to press together with the aufrückenden play strong midfielders towards the goal

Lahm’s game. Doppelpässe and rapid shifts

In the Franco-Dutch duo will be more difficult. Short Passes and fast combinations are required. And here Lahm comes into play. The 31-year-old prefers the fine blade, it automatically advances the game of FC Bayern a few feet forward. Due to his possession when he has no problem to initiate attacks directly from the midfield. One-twos, short sprints, quick shifts. This is the game of the Bayern captain. And that is what Bayern needed after the failures of Ribery, Robben and Alabama.

So there is much to suggest that Lahm is celebrating after nearly five months of injury break his starting line-comeback in the center. Its quality is urgently needed, he has taken the necessary training in the gym. “I have four weeks trained well,” he said.

The question remains, who can ran by his side the question. Here, a look at the statistics. In calendar year 2015, Bayern only two of six competitive games – at bottom club Stuttgart and in the Cup against second division Braunschweig – won when Schweinsteiger and Alonso were common in the starting lineup. Both times with a lot of effort. Once, however, only one of the two auflief from the beginning, the Bavarians went in six out of six games as the winner of the field

Guardiola has to decide

The defeat to Gladbach (0. 2 ) before the international break made clear once again that the two are probably too similar and not the desired pressure through the danger zone can ignite before the opposing central housing. Guardiola will therefore have to choose one of them.

“We do not complain, just have to look forward,” Lahm who does not want to accept as an excuse the injuries said. “We can absorb this with our wide squad.” And above all thanks to him.