Following FC Bayern’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Champions League, TV analyst Dietmar Hamann not only sees room for improvement on the field but also questions the Munich club’s roster planning. The personnel situation could prove problematic, especially with the coming weeks in mind.

“It’s now mid-October; there are still two months until the end of the year, and you still have eight, nine, or ten games that are incredibly important—including in the Champions League,” Hamann warned on Sky. The former Bayern pro fears that the record champions may not have enough depth to handle the upcoming schedule.

Hamann paid particular attention to the players who were called up to the team against Arsenal. Due to the absences of Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, and Jamal Musiala, Tom Bischof, Ismael Saibari, and Lennart Karl, among others, started the match.

Hamann had strong words about the latter: “He’s not really up to par right now.” New signing Ismael Saibari also failed to fully convince the expert. The Moroccan “tried hard, but was also unlucky,” according to Hamann’s assessment.

Fundamentally, it’s crucial that the substitutes also make their contribution when key players are out. “You want your best players on the field, but the ones who come in have to perform as well,” emphasized the 53-year-old.

Saibari and Tom Bischof certainly handled their roles “decently” against Arsenal. However, they couldn’t fully replace the missing starters, according to Hamann.

Departures could still hurt Bayern

The TV analyst also cited changes in the Munich squad as a reason for his concerns. This summer, FC Bayern signed Saibari and Nathaniel Brown, among others. At the same time, however, the record champions let Leon Goretzka, Raphaël Guerreiro, and the on-loan Nicolas Jackson leave.

Hamann pointed out that the three players had made a combined total of more than 100 appearances. “Bayern Munich could end up missing those three sooner or later,” he warned. In his view, the loss of these alternatives could become noticeable as the season progresses.

The draw against Arsenal marked the second consecutive winless Champions League match for Munich. Previously, the German record champions had drawn 3-3 at Viking Stavanger. More important challenges now lie ahead in the Bundesliga and European competition.

On November 3, they face an away match against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. The schedule remains tightly packed through the end of the year. Should more key players be sidelined or individual substitutes fail to capitalize on their opportunities, the depth of the roster could indeed become a decisive factor.

Hamann’s criticism is thus primarily a warning for the coming weeks: FC Bayern needs not only a strong starting lineup but also reliable alternatives to achieve its goals in all competitions.

This article was translated into English by AI. You can read the original version here https://fcbinside.de/2026/10/22/bayern-kader-zu-duenn-hamann-schlaegt-alarm/.