2. FC Bayern Munich
Pep Guardiola’s heir to the Bavarian throne is none other than former AC Milan hero Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian manager has been brought in with the focus perfectly clear – to win the Champions League, as he did when his Real Madrid side steamrollered Guardiola’s Bayern on the way to La Decima.
Having clearly dominated the Bundesliga for the past 4 years, it is time for the Germans to reach the pinnacle of Europe once more, and with one of the strongest squads in Europe they’re well-placed to achieve that. While their team remains largely untouched from last season, they were already extremely well-stocked.
That’s why the club has opted for quality over quantity this time, and the addition of the Euro-winning Renato Sanches and World Cup winner Mats Hummels clearly shows the direction which they’ve chosen for their signings. Their midfield is very powerful, but Xabi Alonso is aging and will need rest – hence the Sanches addition.
Ancelotti is not a manager who spends very much and will be happy to work with such a strong team, bar a few players that the club has quickly shuffled out of the team. With little to no domestic competition apart from Borussia Dortmund, the squad’s biggest tests will be in cup competitions, where Ancelotti excels. Munich has it all to conquer Europe – squad rotation will not be a problem for them.
