Former Bayern Munich defender Markus Babbel spoke with Get French Football News to discuss his former team’s upcoming match against Paris Saint-Germain.
Both Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are facing off in the semi-finals, a matchup that many fans feel deserves to be the final. Is that a sentiment you share?
Absolutely, I feel that way. In my opinion, they are currently the two most talented clubs. They play a fantastic style of football. Paris has immense quality and talent, and so does Bayern Munich. Both teams are on par, and I am eagerly anticipating this encounter because it’s hard to pick a favorite. It will ultimately depend on who performs better that day and perhaps a bit of luck. At this moment, I can’t predict a winner.
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When Real Madrid squared off with Bayern Munich, I viewed Bayern as the favorites. I saw Real Madrid play a few times and thought, ‘This team isn’t quite right.’ They have star players, but as a cohesive unit, they didn’t seem to gel. Bayern Munich, however, is a solid team, and Paris forms a strong unit as well with a lot of talent. Typically, this match would have been the final, which makes it unfortunate to witness one of these teams exit the tournament [laughs]. Such is the nature of the Champions League, though, and I’m really excited for it.
In current form, they seem to be the two best teams left in the competition. Would you agree with that statement?
Yes, I would. However, let’s not overlook Atlético Madrid and Arsenal, who are both brimming with quality. We saw Atlético’s performance against Barcelona, demonstrating that they possess the skills to overcome teams. Arsenal has displayed significant quality, even if they’re not at their peak right now. Their recent performance against Manchester City was impressive; if they play similarly in the semi-finals, they could pose a daunting challenge. Yet when it comes to skill, talent, and attacking prowess, Bayern Munich and Paris are the standout teams.
That being said, just because one of these teams wins doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the favorite for the final, as a final has its own dynamics. But defeating either Paris or Bayern in this match would be a major confidence boost for the winner heading into the final. Still, we must keep in mind that it’s just one match, and Arsenal and Atlético pose significant challenges. This semi-final is bound to be a highlight for every football fan.
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While it’s hard to pick a winner, do you see any weaknesses in Bayern or PSG?
Both teams have substantial attacking strength, which can lead them to neglect their defensive duties at times. Real Madrid and Liverpool have both capitalized on this, occasionally exposing vulnerabilities in their defense. However, this doesn’t imply that their defenders lack quality; they are all top-class players. The issue lies in the overall team approach to defending, as both teams focus on offense and creating scoring opportunities. This mindset makes their matches exciting to watch since they prioritize attacking over mere defense. While I appreciate Atlético Madrid’s defensive style, I personally prefer the excitement of watching Paris and Bayern, who always push forward and strategically seek to exploit weaknesses.
This complexity makes it challenging to declare either Bayern Munich or Paris the outright favorite. Perhaps it leans towards Paris, as they were the champions last year and possess a winning mentality in the Champions League. On the other hand, Bayern has a rich history of success and is riding high after winning the Bundesliga, which alleviates league pressure. This could give them confidence going into these two matches. All in all, it promises to be an incredible game, and I am genuinely excited about it. Many were thrilled to see Bayern face Real Madrid, but I mentioned, ‘Forget Real Madrid; this isn’t the formidable Real Madrid of a decade ago.’ While they have impressive individual talent, they lack the cohesiveness of a true team. In contrast, watching Paris is mesmerizing, as they showcase exceptional creativity and skill.
Michael Olise is a player many in France will be closely watching. It seems he has elevated his game since joining the Bundesliga. Can you elaborate on how he has improved since arriving at Bayern?
I’m not entirely convinced he has reached a new level. This is actually the biggest surprise to me. I watch a lot of Premier League matches and observed him at Crystal Palace. I kept thinking, ‘Why hasn’t anyone snapped him up? How good can he really be?’ Alongside Eberechi Eze, they were an incredible duo. I found myself questioning why a larger club hadn’t acquired them. I believe the most significant change for Olise is that he is now playing alongside better players. Not all the attention focuses on him anymore. With talents like Luis Díaz on the left, Harry Kane up front, and Jamal Musiala also in the mix, he doesn’t shoulder all the responsibility. If he doesn’t perform, there are still three other players contributing. This alleviates the pressure that weighed heavily on him during his time at Crystal Palace, where if he wasn’t at his best, the team struggled; everything revolved around him, creating immense pressure on such a young talent. Now, he can play freely, surrounded by top-tier players.
In Germany, he may not have been a star name among Bayern Munich fans, considering his arrival from Crystal Palace. Initially, there was skepticism about the price tag of €60m for a player from Palace. But I thought, ‘What a bargain! In a few years, you might be looking at spending €150-200m for him.’
Markus Babbel was speaking exclusively to GFFN on behalf of BetWright, which offers the latest
Champions League odds
.