By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Dec 6 (Xinhua) -- It might still be a fortuneteller's job to predict who is going to win the 2017/2018 Champions League.
Until now most would have chosen one of the usual suspects such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris St Germain. After the group stage, it might be a good idea to add Bayern Munich.
The 2017 German Champions might have missed winning their group crossing the line as runner-up in group B behind Paris. But crushing a side like Paris by 3-1 was a message to Europe's inner football circle: The Bavarians are back.
On top, the victory is designed to enforce Munich's growing team spirit and reveal the team's qualities that so far only gradually became apparent; at least when it comes to international competitions.
The disastrous 0-3 defeat in the first leg last September is history now.
In advance of the draw for the first knock-out round on Monday, Dec. 10, it must be evident to all competitors: Bayern having been torn to bits and pieces in Paris has got nothing to do with Bayern under Jupp Heynckes.
One might call the duel Bayern vs. Paris a matter of prestige and be right. But it wasn't only a statement for opponents but a statement addressing internal belongings for a club that was struggling and had to find an answer: Are we competitive enough for the big games on the international stage?
What happened between September and now?
It is the same faces in Bayern' s redshirts, but a team has developed. 72-year-old Jupp Heynckes managed to combine golden agers such as Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Jerome Boateng and Arturo Vidal and ambitious talents such as Kingsley Coman and Corentin Tolisso while having to replace key performers such as Robben, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Thomas Mueller, and Ribery.
Neuer replacement Sven Ulreich developed from uncertainty to more than reliable. The 29-year-old closed discussions about an assumed goalkeeper problem.
What made Bayern's changes visible, was Heynckes' line up. Some were reminded of the 0-3 defeat when former coach Carlo Ancelotti left out cornerstones such as Jerome Boateng, Mueller, Mats Hummels, Ribery, and Robben. Other than Ancelotti Heynckes explained his decision and the team followed the coaches plans. Javi Martinez, Boateng, Mueller and Vidal were sidelined at kick-off.
"This victory was an achievement of the entire team," Heynckes commented after the critical international exam. Under Ancelotti Tolisso, James Rodriguez and Coman were outsiders in Bayern's squad. Heynckes managed to integrate them. He enforced the game over the wings, achieved stability and gathered the team behind him.
The 21-year-old Coman was always regarded to be a great talent, but it took over two years to make him better. Heynckes worked on Coman' s deficits such as precise passing and effectiveness in front of the goal.
The 2013 treble winner made no big fuss about some players' problems but intensively practiced passing with Coman. Bayern' s players, no matter whom you talk about, feel important again which lead to a returning team spirit.
Ribery returned after two months long injury break and still made it into the starting eleven. On top, as Bayern was playing a French team, Ribery was Heynckes' choice as team captain. The 34-year-old French striker might play his last season as he is struggling due to his age. To appoint him as team captain, was a message to Ribery and the team. "Franck will be an important weapon when we face the knock-out games next year," Heynckes stressed.
Next, to Ribery, the Frenchmen Tolisso and Coman stood for Bayern's French note.
Barcelona, Real, Manchester City and Paris might rely on more individual quality, Bayern can depend on a growing team spirit and emerging individual quality.
How far will the changes of Heynckes take the team now?
The answer might be written in the stars and a challenge for fortunetellers. For now, Bayern's message to its European opponents must be enough: We are back, so better don't forget about us.
