Impatiently ambitious

style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: 600;"Sun 7th Apr, 2013

The mathematics have finally been confirmed. Bayern Munich are the champions of German football again after a two year absence. The celebrations in Frankfurt were of a side quietly content and not overwhelming emotional. This title is less about the achievement and more about the manner in which they achieved it.

The records that this Bayern side have broken, and are almost certainly expected to continue to break, are what have made this season so spectacular for them. The goals scored (79), conceded (13), the win (24) and loss (1) columns; all of them make truly unbelievable reading. Even more remarkable is that there are still six games left to go and the "second-string" selection Heynckes is expected to make is more than capable of keeping the order. The most impressive statistic of all is since the defeat to Leverkusen in October, Bayern have only lost once (Arsenal in the Champions League), drawn four and won an astounding 23 competitive fixtures. This is the definition of good form.

There seemed to be a hint of "job done" about Bayern's weekend celebrations. Of course, Heynckes could afford a smile and a moment to enjoy the achievement but nothing more. 23 years since his last Bundesliga title or not, he knows there are more shapes to this montage than the circular one of the Meisterschale. He wants to leave Pep Guardiola everything and nothing but out of pride in his ability, not out of spite.

There is a desire to not just reclaim a grip domestically but to do it in a manner that is loudly dominant. They have certainly done that in the league, no other side has wrapped up the title this early before. Their much discussed squad depth has been a huge part of that achievement but there is a certain determination, a drive to this Bayern side that has long been absent. It is a drive in pursuit of more than just success. They are impatiently ambitious in pursuit of an immortal resurrection.

This desire is epidemic and, as much as there will be an inevitable "foot off the pedal" period, the players stepping in will also be keen to keep the club's record in tact. Both young and old are capable of contributing because they want to be a part of this special squad come the end of this season. They want to be part of a treble winning side, one that finally overcame the rise of Borussia Dortmund smashing records left, right and centre in the process. Above all, they want to be part of a squad that completes that extra, European step. Falling short again would be tragic for a side that has made the ever-competitive Bundesliga look like a one-dimensional league across the last nine months.

A special season it must be too and captain Philipp Lahm's quote after the Frankfurt game is evidence of that: "We aren't done yet." The focus hasn't stopped. Wednesday is Juventus and a tie to finish off. If that goes to plan, Friday will reveal their semi-final opponents before a home clash against Nürnberg and then the domestic cup semi-final against Wolfsburg.

That work is expected to be successfully completed which adds pressure to this team. This year though, it is time to step up and vindicate that constant expectation. Not just for the sake of the club's fantastic season but also for the man in charge. The man for all occasions deserves to go out basking in shades of three glorious silvers and on the basis of this team, in this moment and in this form, Heynckes' slippers will be lined with velvet even if he doesn't want them just yet.


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