By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich admitted having a serious striker problem. The 2017 German Champion said to sign a new forward shortly. "We will look for a solution as soon as possible," Hasan Salihamidzic, Bayern's sports director announced in advance of the club's Champions League group game against Celtic Glasgow this Tuesday evening.
According to reports the 2013 treble winner is targeting a back-up for Polish international Robert Lewandowski but faces several problems to ease the situation as the new striker must address high-quality standards and has to be available as soon as in the next winter break.
After Lewandowski was substituted in the latest Bundesliga game against RB Leipzig seconds before halftime due to security precautions to avoid a muscle injury, the team's difficulties came to light when have to play without a traditional spearhead up front. Today the club announced Lewandowski will miss the game in Glasgow.
Bayern's club leaders such as president Uli Hoeness and CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted having misjudged the situation last summer as they decided to only count on the 29-year-old. "It is obvious that we have to do something to allow the coach more options," Rummenigge commented.
Bayern's fatal dependency on Lewandowski was revealed when Bayern's game lacked efficiency when Thiago, James Rodriguez, and Sebastian Rudy unsuccessfully tried to close the gap acting as a false nine in the opponents' box.
In the past two years, Lewandowski was in action in 95 percent of the clubs games. In 2017 the Pole scored 28 goals in 27 Bundesliga games. In the 2017/2018 season, he scored two goals in the German Cup, one in the Champions League and ten in ten Bundesliga games.
According to media reports, Bayern is thinking about German international Timo Werner, but the striker of RB Leipzig won't be available soon as his contract with the club is running until 2020. Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff told German media the club does not intend to sell the 22-year-old. "We don't see an offer to make us change our minds," Mintzlaff said.
Lewandowski expressed his concern about the burden having to play in every game. "It would be good to have some break in between to recover. But at present, there seems to be no alternative. No player can provide a high standard playing all games of a season," Lewandowski stressed. "This season is tough for me as I have to play every three days with my club and the Polish national team," Lewandowski emphasized.
Bayern's trouble increased after strikers such as Franck Ribery, and Tomas Mueller are sidelined due to injury. James, Arjen Robben, and Kingsley Coman lacked the best shape due to minor injuries.
Bayern defender Jerome Boateng call it "inadequate and unacceptable" that the team is supposed to secure the club's goals having to play with only one spearheading striker. Boateng called the current situation a reason to be gravely concerned.
The team is on the right way under their new coach Jupp Heynckes the German international said after the side won all of its last five games with Heynckes in charge. "We made several steps in the right direction, but not all problems are solved to our satisfaction."
Bayern defender Joshua Kimmich said the team lacks options behind Lewandowski. "The situation is getting worse since Thomas Mueller and Franck Ribery are sidelined," the German international commented. It would be impossible for every team on an international top level having to replace a player of Lewandowski's quality. "He is an exceptional factor for our game, but we need to find a solution," Kimmich said.
Facing Celtic Glasgow Bayern is trying to secure the second place in their group before the side is facing crucial games in the German Bundesliga and the German Cup against national rival Borussia Dortmund and the second-leg game against Paris St Germain in the Champions League.
