Bayern Munich is once again under intense scrutiny following their latest exit from the UEFA Champions League.
Despite their domestic dominance, the German giants failed to live up to expectations on the European stage, and this year’s quarterfinal loss to Inter Milan has triggered calls for major structural changes within the club.
The elimination marks the fourth time in five seasons that Bayern has fallen at the quarterfinal stage, a pattern that has raised serious concerns among fans, media, and even the players themselves. The club’s previous heartbreak at home in the 2012 final still lingers in memory, and the Allianz Arena remains a place of unfulfilled European dreams.
Germany’s leading football magazine Kicker declared that “business as usual is no option” for Bayern, urging a radical squad overhaul and clearer leadership from the club’s top brass. Captain Joshua Kimmich didn’t hold back either, acknowledging that the team had managed to reach the knockout rounds largely on luck and lacked the firepower to beat elite European opponents this season.
“We can’t just keep pretending,” Kimmich said. “Bayern hasn’t truly competed at the highest level this year, and that’s not acceptable.”
Financial questions have also come to the forefront. With expensive contract renewals for stars like Kimmich, Manuel Neuer, Alphonso Davies, and Jamal Musiala, Bayern’s wage bill has ballooned. Critics argue that these financial commitments have come at the cost of squad depth, particularly in defense and striker support for Harry Kane.
Reports from Bild suggest that Max Eberl, Bayern’s board member for sport, may be facing internal pressure due to recent transfer decisions and public statements minimizing the season’s failures. Bayern’s head coach Vincent Kompany, only in his first year, is also facing increased scrutiny, with pundits questioning his tactical approach and team motivation.
Calls are now growing louder for an “honest and transparent” review of Bayern’s direction. If significant changes aren’t made before the next season, critics fear that Bayern’s reputation as a European powerhouse could continue to erode.