FC Bayern is currently operating on a shoestring in terms of personnel. A former Bayern star sees this as a deliberate risk—and warns of a “walk on a razor’s edge.”

The tense personnel situation at FC Bayern continues to spark debate following the 2-2 draw against Arsenal. Against the Gunners, several key players—including Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, and Jamal Musiala—were missing, and Luis Díaz wasn’t fit enough to start. For former Bayern pro Markus Babbel, this highlights a fundamental risk in the Munich club’s roster planning.

In an interview with ran, Babbel was asked whether the German record champions’ roster was too stretched thin. His answer was unequivocal: “Yes, that’s how it looks right now.”

The 54-year-old was particularly surprised that Max Eberl had recently spoken publicly about Lennart Karl’s poor form. “That’s not something you normally see from Bayern, and I think there was definitely a message behind it for the players coming up through the ranks: If you get playing time, we expect more from you,” Babbel explained.

The former Bayern defender also pointed out the strain following the World Cup. Many top clubs are currently struggling with injury problems. At the same time, he said, the situation is difficult for management to manage because the established stars want to play as often as possible.

Babbel: “That’s why it’s always a tightrope walk.”

That’s exactly where Babbel sees FC Bayern’s dilemma. “At Bayern, the starters aren’t happy when they have to rotate to the bench. A player like Harry Kane simply wants to play three times a week. And that’s what sets top players apart. That’s why it’s always a walk on a tightrope.”

FC Bayern made a conscious decision to go this route, Babbel continued: “And then you have to accept that in such a big game, you might not always have your best players on the field.”

Just how quickly the already thin roster can become a problem was evident in the match against Arsenal, of all teams. In addition to the suspended Olise, Musiala and Kimmich were also out, while Díaz initially sat on the bench due to muscle issues. The Colombian even had to leave the field injured after coming on as a substitute.

Even after the Arsenal game, there are therefore concerns about Díaz. Especially during a stretch with many games, it becomes clear just how fine the line can be between a deliberately compact roster and a lack of alternatives.

Nevertheless, Babbel doesn’t think Munich’s lineup is fundamentally flawed. Rather, he describes it as a balancing act: On the one hand, the stars want to play regularly; on the other, Vincent Kompany needs enough quality on the bench to compensate for absences in top matches. The game against Arsenal made it clear just how challenging this balancing act can be.

This article was translated into English by AI. You can read the original version here https://fcbinside.de/2026/10/23/duenner-kader-beim-fc-bayern-ritt-auf-der-rasierklinge/.