Bayern Munich’s Hansi Flick says there are “no more excuses” and doesn’t think strategy is to blame

Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick offered many thoughts after his team’s devastating loss to Holstein Kiel in the DFB-Pokal. We covered some of those already, but Flick delved even more into where Bayern Munich goes from here and also his rationale for thinking that his strategy to apply pressure on opponents is still the way to go.

“We have to look ahead, we have to a lot of work to do,” said Flick as captured by the DFB. “There are no more excuses. We have showed for 120 minutes that we are fit and can put in the effort. Too many matches, too little rest, but that’s done. We have to look ahead to our next task and start playing winning football. We need to get that back.”

Flick also expressed his disappointment with allowing the game-tying goal just before halftime. Holstein Kiel’s Jannik Dehm was under no pressure and unleashed a pinpoint pass to Finn Bartels. Bartels made a sensational run and easily finished his attempt against Manuel Neuer.

This is a scenario that Bayern Munich fans have, unfortunately, become accustomed to of late.

The play was a microcosm of Bayern Munich’s overall lack or urgency in defending after a change of possession in the offensive end, while also exposing a lack of focus on the backline during a counter-attack. In this instance, Holstein Kiel victimized Niklas Süle and Bouna Sarr.

Bastian Schweinsteiger was one of the pundits, who criticized the Bayern Munich back-line’s high positioning.

“Bayern are standing very high on the pitch,” said Schweinsteiger, as captured by @iMiaSanMia. “You get the feeling that the opponents have slowly figured that out. They’re consistently trying to look for quick and direct passes in behind. From my point of view it’s unnecessary for them to stand so high.”

Flick acknowledged the goal was frustrating, but did not buy-in to Schweinsteiger’s rationale that all of the blame should be put on having a high backline.

“We’ve discussed and trained these situations,” said Flick. “You need to secure the space behind. That has nothing to do with a high backline. Our way of playing revolves around putting our opponents under pressure. We didn’t quite do that as we would have liked. You also have to say that Kiel have a very good way of playing and they put on a real cup fight. They resisted us with everything they had.”