Bayern Munich’s relatively small squad has become a talking point as the season progresses, with questions about whether Vincent Kompany has enough depth to compete on every front. However, respected German football journalist Raphael Honigstein believes the club’s approach has been deliberate, even if certain positions could still use reinforcements.
Honigstein, a German soccer expert and author whose work has appeared in The Athletic and The Guardian, spoke to Casino Guru about Bayern’s squad-building philosophy and where the club could potentially look to strengthen in January.
“Well, the policy for the last couple of years has been quite deliberate: to have a smallish squad,” Honigstein said.
The thinking is straightforward: Bayern wants to avoid a locker room filled with expensive, high-profile players who become unhappy when they are not getting enough playing time. Maintaining a smaller group helps preserve harmony and ensures everyone feels valued, although it inevitably creates risks when injuries and fixture congestion arrive.
Honigstein believes Bayern has made progress in certain areas, particularly at full-back and in the attacking midfield positions. Nathaniel Brown’s versatility provides additional options, while Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise offer Kompany flexibility in central attacking roles.
However, the left wing is a different story.
“The biggest problem, I think, is on the left, where there isn’t really a like-for-like replacement if Luis Díaz is not available,” Honigstein told Casino Guru.
Díaz’s fitness and consistency have helped Bayern avoid that problem so far, while Alphonso Davies could potentially be deployed further forward if necessary. Still, relying on positional adjustments rather than a natural replacement could become a concern when the stakes are highest.
Honigstein acknowledged that another signing or two might prove valuable when Bayern reaches the decisive stages of the Champions League. A deeper bench could provide Kompany with more options in a tight semifinal or another high-pressure encounter.
But there is a trade-off. Adding more expensive players could disrupt the team spirit and togetherness that Bayern has worked to establish.
Ultimately, Honigstein believes the debate over squad depth will become clearer when the biggest matches arrive in the spring. Whether Bayern decides to act in January remains to be seen, but the club must balance its carefully constructed locker room against the very real demands of competing for major trophies.
For now, Bayern’s hierarchy appears committed to its approach. The question is whether that strategy will leave Kompany with enough firepower and flexibility when the season reaches its defining moments.
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