How Flick has changed Bayern - a THREAD
When Flick took over, Bayern were 4th, struggling in the league and in the Cup. 9 months later, the European giant have won everything they possibly could in Germany and are in the Semifinals of the Champions League. But how has he done it?
Since Hansi Flick has been appointed as Bayern manager, he has implemented a 4-2-3-1 with positional play. The positional play comes down to giving the offense a set of guidelines to play within a structured scheme.
The playing field is divided into specific zones and two teammates can’t be in the same zone at the same time. The main aim is to help ball progression as well as being closer to each other to recover the ball once it is lost.
Every Bayern player is as far from each other as they possibly could. Their positioning will provide multiple things. They will allow time and space to the ball-carrier to make a more accurate forward pass. They will also be able to stretch their opponent’s defensive backline.
Therefore, it will create space in the middle for Bayern players to exploit. This is seen through Bayern’s left-wing, with Davies bombing forward while Gnabry is positioned on the halfspace. They know how to position themselves in order to not be in the way of each other.
Bayern are also working with attacking triangles. Below, there are multiple triangles created.
Those triangles will achieve two things. In the first place, triangles help ball progression. Indeed, if you have more solutions to pass the ball to, you will be able to find your teammates much easily. But, it isn't the only thing that will be achieved.
As Bayern players are close to each other, they can make a counter-pressing when they have lost the ball. It will help them not being exposed defensively despite committing many players forward.
Finally, I will talk about how Bayern most advanced players change positions when Bayern have the ball. Wingers often drop deep to draw a player when the full-back on his side has the ball.
Thomas MĂĽller will often go into this vacated space to receive the ball or stretch the opponent's backline. If the full-back decides to pass it to his winger then the winger will need to have the technical ability to turn himself and find a pass forward.
The positional play is also seen through players being able to rotate on the wings. The left-side rotations are the best example of it. There, Davies drive forward and to provide a passing lane while let him progress higher up the pitch, the winger provides width.
Hansi Flick has restored what Bayern were under Pep. An unpredictable team where players know exactly what they have to do. Bayern have scored 39 goals in 9 Champions League games and Flick has played a big part in this.
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