Two Players Who Can Improve Bayern Munich In The Champions League
German champions Bayern Munich were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League when they were defeated 4-2 (Aggregate 6-3) by Real Madrid on Tuesday night in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Die Roten have had a slightly under-par campaign under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, compared to the amazingly high standards that they have set. After surviving a few hiccups in the group stages, the Germans came into their own in the Round-Of-16, as they steam-rolled Premier League side Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate to progress to the quarter-final stage of the competition.
However, they were bettered by the Los Blancos, who did have a slice of luck in the second leg due to some poor refereeing decisions.
The Bundesliga title is theirs to lose as they sit on top of the table, 8 points clear of second-placed RB Leipzig, but Ancelotti was brought to the club to bring success in the continental competitions. That will be their primary target once again next season as well. To that end, here are two players that they should look to sign if they are to improve their performance in Europe:
Andre Silva
There has been plenty written about Andre Silva’s potential exit in the summer from FC Porto, with a move to a bigger club, amid interests from Manchester United and Arsenal.
But one club who would greatly benefit from signing the Portuguese international will be Bayern Munich. The 21-year old has been the leading goal-scorer for the Dragoes this term, with 20 goals from 40 games in all competitions – 4 of which have come in the Champions League from 8 appearances.
Young and agile, Silva is comfortable playing anywhere across the front three and would add some quality in depth behind the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller. He will provide Ancelotti with an alternate dimension to what he currently has at his disposal and Silva has the ability to develop into a key player at the Allianz Arena for years to come.
Nelson Semedo
With captain and club legend Philipp Lahm announcing that he will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season, signing a new right-back as a replacement for the long-serving defender will be a huge priority for the German club.
While academy graduate Joshua Kimmich has played at right-back this season and has done a good job, it is said that the talented youngster sees his future as a midfielder, thus making the signing of a right-back a priority in the summer.
SL Benfica full-back Nelson Semedo has been on the radar of the club for quite some time now. The 23-year old has grown in prominence in his native with some fine performances. The Portuguese international has made 42 appearances across all competitions this term, scoring 2 goals and setting up 10. He has done well in the Champions League as well, playing all 8 games with a return of one goal.
An attacking right-back, he will suit Bayern’s style of play as they rely on their full-backs to bomb forward on every occasion. Semedo has the potential to fill in the large shoes that Philipp Lahm will leave behind in the summer and should be made a top target by the Germans.
