For the second straight week Bayern Munich dominated their opponents and finished the game tied 1-1. Should-be-wins that end in draws can really impact the table at the end of a season. Just ask Toronto FC fans who are probably going to have to deal with TFC missing the playoffs despite being so close. Convert a couple ties into victories, and TFC is comfortably defending a playoff spot right now. 

I know that most of our audience on the Dean Blundell Network aren’t Bundesliga fans. I am. Dean gave me the Director of Sports title which gives me freedom to write and talk about whatever I want, so you’re going to have to deal with it from time-to-time. 

Anyways, we knew heading into week five of the Bundesliga season Bayern Munich were going to be challenged for the first time this season against Union Berlin. Union took the middle of the field away from Bayern in the first half, and I was left asking; Why is Thomas Müller on the bench? My follow up question was; Is Julian Nagelsmann that stupid?

Here is your team to face @fcunion_en! 🔴⚪#MiaSanMia #FCUFCB pic.twitter.com/BvIsw9vBM8

— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) September 3, 2022

Müller hasn’t missed a start since February 21, 2021, and being held off the starting 11 for Saturday’s game was idiotic. I get game management, Saturday’s match vs Union was Bayern’s third game in seven days. However, Bayern just trounced third-division FC Victoria Köln on Wednesday in Bayern’s first DFB-Pokal game of the campaign. If Nagelsmann was going to load-manage Müller that was the game to do it. The game against third place Union Berlin who entered match day five level with Bayern at ten-points wasn’t the time to do it. 

By the time Müller entered the game in the 61st minute Bayern was gassed. Bayern were dominating Union with 76% possession and out shooting Berlin 15-3. Yet the game was levelled at 1-1 due to Union’s fantastic defence taking away the middle of the pitch. Müller had little impact in the game, Kingsley Coman was shut down all night, while Leroy Sané and Sadio Mané were not existent. “What ifs” are useless, but I’m going to use one anyway. If Thomas Müller would have started the game the result could have been different.

I was never a fan of Julian Nagelsmann so my takes are usually going to be negative. If Bayern win I’m probably not talking about this. But they didn’t, and I was pissed off about the decision when the game started. Nagelsmann’s decision making reminds of Pep Guardiola. Both seem to take winning formulas and make questionable changes for the sake of change.