Bayern Munich: Just clever or more of crisis?

It might be unfair to talk about anything close to a crisis when it comes to Bayern Munich who are seven points ahead in the German Bundesliga, having reached the semifinal in the German Cup and won the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal against Benfica (1-0).

But in advance of the second leg against Benfica this Wednesday evening, Bayern Munich face widespread discussion if they are either not overwhelmingly efficient (and in a crisis) or just clever?

Looking at the last games, the big ease seems to have disappeared in their performances. Many of their last games "only" ended in narrow 1-0 victories. Striker Robert Lewandowski has for instance not scored in last three games. Is that a crisis? After all: The Polish forward has scored eight goals in nine Champions League games (36 in total plus seven assists in 42 games). Fact is: Bayern's games look more like hard work at the moment and seem to lack what football festivals usually provide.

On top, millions of fans are debating the question: Can the record of coach Pep Guardiola' s three-year tenure be called successful if he does not manage to win the most important European club competition at least once?

So even in Bayern's squad on the "road to Milan (the venue of the final on May 28)" controversial discussions are taking place. "When good teams win their games narrowly, you normally say they are clever," says Bayern striker Thomas Mueller. He demands determination from his teammates.

At the same time captain Philipp Lahm is talking about "certain problems in our game" as he points out, "that we have lately not managed to dominate our opponents with enough power". Lahm himself comes to the conclusion, "that we lacked mental freshness". As Lahm puts it, "we have to be more efficient. When in possession, we were not precise enough and made some wrong decisions."

In several games, Bayern could not manage to create many chances and fans saw too many long balls. "It's a fact as well that we are complaining on a high level," says Lahm. "We are solid in the back and we're winning games." With the passing not precise enough, Guardiola also complains about too many lost "second balls", meaning, Bayern can't create enough pressure. Instead they have to set up the next attack too far down the pitch. And that costs time and effort.

So Bayern itself seems to be in the middle of a discussion about some kind of "in between atmosphere", meaning, between what you call cleverness and the expectation of being perfect. Looking at the game in Lisbon, another record of Pep Guardiola comes to the fans' minds. The 45-year-old Spaniard has won only four of his 19 away games in the Champions League. But in Lisbon a draw or a defeat, if Bayern should score an away goal in a 2-1 defeat, will suffice to reach the semifinal.

While Philip Lahm is convinced that they will manage to score a goal and get into the next round, Pep Guardiola is relying on the current top form of Franck Ribery. The French striker seems to be in world class form after being out of the game for months on end with an injury. And even Lewandowski is optimistic he will chip in with a goal. "I have to stay calm and we have to stay calm, then things will work out the way we want," said Lewandowski.

But do they inevitably? To be eliminated in as early as the quarterfinals of the Champions League will be seen as a historical defeat and as a general failure of Guardiola. Besides 33-year-old Ribery, Bayern is counting on Kingsley Coman as the 19-year French forward is back in regular training after an injury break, as well as on Arturo Vidal's power and strength in midfield. "He's a player every team needs," said Bayern Munich's director of football Matthias Sammer.

"I'm sure we can be optimistic regarding the game in Lisbon. And I'm sure Robert Lewandowski will score against Benfica," said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Despite the narrow win in the first game, Bayern seems to be optimistic of going through "as we all are aiming to get to the final" (Philipp Lahm).

Despite the plan of at least scoring one goal in Portugal, some of Bayern's players face a ban in a possible semifinal should they proceed. Juan Bernat, Joshua Kimmich, Arturo Vidal and Robert Lewandowski would be banned if they are shown another yellow card. But for now that does not seem to bother Pep Guardiola. The next task to be fulfilled is to reach the semifinal no matter what happens afterwards.

Matthias Sammer recently came up with a special advice in order to be successful: "Have fun winning but don't be afraid to lose." And if things work out, the club can be happy about another 12 million Euros because they then would have earned a total of 90 million euros. Endit