Daily Schmankerl: Bayern hunting two right-backs, Bundesliga restart postponed, Rummenigge backs salary cap

Thoughts on Bayern’s supposed plan to sign two right-backs

Manu Lonjon tweeted yesterday that Bayern Munich plans to search for two right-backs this summer, because they plan to restore Benjamin Pavard to the central defense.

Voila, le tweet:

Bayern Munich is seeking two right-backs for this summer. Benjamin Pavard is supposed to be repositioned in the center.

If you ask me, though, don’t expect Bayern Munich to do any such thing. Two right-backs would mean both a starter and a backup, and that is not at all where Bayern needs or intends to invest its millions in the upcoming transfer market.

To put it simply, Benjamin Pavard has been outstanding at right-back. I don’t see why Bayern would spoil a good thing by thrusting him back in the center — or, worse, the bench — to compete with Niklas Süle, Jerome Boateng, or Boateng’s hypothetical replacement.

Hasan Salihamidzic said recently that Bayern plans to sign an “international star” (read: Leroy Sané — how flattering!) and a “European top talent.” Who could that be? Odds are that it’s one of the right-back prospects associated with the club, especially American international Sergino Dest.

That would make good sense for Bayern, because a young, up-and-coming player like Dest would be the perfect candidate to back up Pavard, sharpen his skills and provide value in training (you know, on team B, keeping the pros sharp), and potentially play the odd game.

Decision on restarting the Bundesliga postponed to May 6 (kicker)

Angela Merkel met with the sixteen German minister-presidents today to discuss the possibility of resuming play in the Bundesliga in addition to reopening other institutions. She stated afterward that the meeting was an “intermediate step.”

Merkel elaborated, “We will make very clear decisions on May 6 concerning the order and way in which school and daycare, as well as certain athletic activities in given conditions, will be possible again.”

Resuming the season on May 9 is now impossible. The earliest realistic start day per kicker is May 22 or May 29. The DFL wants to complete the season by June 30, but accepts the decision of the German government.

Flick finally signs (FCBayern.com)

Yay, Hansi! This time he really used the pen.

Hertha Berlin manager welcomes potential return of the Boatengs (Bild)

Jerome and his half-brother Keven-Prince got to gabbing on Instagram and, as one does, got nostalgic about their hometown Berlin. Kevin-Prince said, “Ending my career on the pitch with my brother, maybe with our home club in the Olympiastadion — that would be a dream.” Jerome said, “You never know in soccer...”

It’s highly unlikely, but indeed you never know. Hertha manager Michael Preetz was delighted to hear about their interest. He said:

“It’s really nice to hear that the two still have such a close connection to Berlin and to Hertha BSC. They’re both Berliner Jungs and both have achieved an enormous amount in their career and seen the world. It’s completely understandable and make me very happy that they might come back home, back to this fantastic city.”

“If things get that far, we will definitely talk,” Preetz added.

Of course, it’s not very likely. Bild thinks some form of collaboration is more likely after the brothers end their active careers.

But never say never.

Rummenigge advocates European salary cap (Münchner Merkur)

In a lengthy interview with TZ/Münchner Merkur, Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge revisited his support for the introduction of a salary cap in European soccer.

He said, “When this crisis is over, we are obligated to seriously discuss reversing certain things with good judgment. But to do so — and I say this purposefully — we will need not only German, but also European politics. In the years 2008 and 2009, I was in Brussels seven or eight times with Mr. Platini and Infantino to discuss a European salary cap with the EU Commission. We were informed on every try that it was incompatible with European competitive law. Unfortunately.”

Rummenigge characterized Financial Fair Play as a sword “that is not nearly as sharp as a salary cap.” He added,

“Don’t get me wrong: I don’t want American conditions. I don’t think those are good either. Our sporting culture needs relegation and promotion, a real competition. Nonetheless, after this crisis we have to address the topic of what we can do to make soccer more rational and more stable.”

Bayern Munich will phase out U9 and U10 teams (FCBayern.com)

Bayern Munich has decided to phase out its U9 and U10 teams. The U9 team will be phased out in the 2021/22 season and the U10 team in 2022/23. Thereafter, training at the FC Bayern Campus will beging at the U11 level.

Athletic director at the Campus Holger Seitz said, “FC Bayern is aware of its social responsibility particularly for very young soccer players in the Munich area and the neighboring regions. With this step, it should be possible for the children to develop longer in the familiar setting of their home club without the pressure to perform and without additional time commitment.”

Seitz said the club wants children to have the free time to try out other sports and enjoy other experiences that might “have a positive influence on their footballing capabilities.”

Bayern will compensate for gifted players in the region by allowing local clubs to have special training sessions at the U7 and U8 level at the FC Bayern Campus beginning in 2020/21.

If it ain’t broke (or if the defense is broke)

Oh hey, Joshua Kimmich and Thiago are really good