Bayern Munich’s 0-0 draw with Schalke has prompted concern over their forwards for the upcoming season.
The champions failed to score for the first time in 59 games against the newly-promoted side, and for some it wasn’t a coincidence.
Harry Kane and Michael Olise started the match on the bench, and while they had an impact coming on, Bayern weren’t up to much without them.
In fact, Sky pundit Didi Hamann sees a problem with Ismael Saibari as Kane’s new back-up.
Saibari isn’t capable of backing up Kane
“He is a wonderful footballer, but he’s too slow,” Hamann said. “He’s not quick, and he’s kind of like a lesser version of Harry Kane.
“He’ll probably have ten or twelve moments this season where we’ll all say, ‘Wow, nobody else in the Bundesliga can do that.’ But can he do it consistently over the course of a season?
“When you look at the attack: Kane isn’t the fastest player. Now the backup striker isn’t particularly fast either.
“People say Sabari can play four different positions. I say he can play exactly one position: behind Kane.”
Broadening out the picture, Hamann believes Bayern have a weaker squad, particularly with loanee Nicolas Jackson leaving the club.
Hamann says Bayern are weaker than last season
He added: “People keep saying, ‘Wow, they’re better than last year.’ They’re not better than last year. The players who came in are Brown, Saibari, and Davies.
“Internally, they’re not even sure whether Davies will fully get back to his best, and with Musiala there are currently question marks for other reasons as well.
“So those are the players who were brought in, while two other important players have not really been replaced yet.
“Then you’ve lost Guerrero, Goretzka, and Jackson — that’s more than 100 appearances between them, over 25 goals, I think, and especially Jackson’s pace.
“I wasn’t even his biggest fan, but one of Bayern’s best games last season was in Bergamo. Jackson played up front that day, and his speed stretched the game and created space for everyone else.
“Olise played brilliantly, Gnabry scored goals. That’s what they’re missing now.
“But Gnabry is significantly better in that role. They’ve been missing him for a long time. They missed him at the end of last season as well.
“He was probably our biggest absence at the World Cup because he couldn’t play.
“Hopefully he’ll be back soon. And I honestly believe the only position Sabari can really play is behind Kane, because out wide he’s simply too slow.”
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