According to reports, Bayern Munich will end the season without silverware, except for the Bundesliga title—something the club’s management does not find sufficient.

Dietmar Hamann believes he has identified the reason behind Bayern’s struggles. He claims their elimination from the Champions League was due to the midfield pairing of Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka.

Hamann said on Sky Sports’ ‘Double Pass’: “The defense has become too vulnerable. Over the past five years, the defenders have changed every year. And who plays in front of the defense? Kimmich and Goretzka. With these two in midfield, you will never win the Champions League.”

Hamann also suggested that Bayern coach Vincent Kompany should deploy Kimmich as a right-back: “In my opinion, Kompany’s first move next season should be to play Kimmich at right-back. The current England manager did the same, and so did the Germany coach. The only chance for Kimmich is to move him out of midfield.”

The former Bayern player added: “They played against Inter Milan four weeks ago. Inter had four players over 35 in their lineup. In midfield, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan played—one is 32, the other 36. Kimmich and Goretzka couldn’t handle them. This level is neither international nor world-class. There are much better midfield pairings in the Champions League.”

In Bayern’s last Champions League triumph in 2020, Kimmich played as a right-back. In midfield, then-coach Hansi Flick paired Leon Goretzka with Thiago Alcântara. Hamann’s suggestion: Aleksandar Pavlović should play as a defensive midfielder, alongside “a suitable player.”